U.S. President Donald Trump on Saturday criticized Israeli prosecutors for continuing the corruption trial of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, calling it “insanity” and warning that Washington would not tolerate legal moves that, in his view, undermine a close ally during wartime.
Netanyahu, who faces charges of bribery, fraud, and breach of trust dating back to his 2019 indictment — all of which he denies — is due to testify under cross-examination on Monday. His lawyers had requested a two-week delay citing urgent diplomatic and security responsibilities following the recent 12-day war with Iran, but the court rejected the appeal on Friday.
“This is INSANITY — what these out-of-control prosecutors are doing to Bibi Netanyahu,” Trump posted on Truth Social, claiming the trial interferes with Netanyahu’s capacity to negotiate with Hamas and manage Iran-related threats.
Israeli prosecutors declined to comment on Trump’s remarks.
In a second post, Trump directly linked the trial to U.S. support for Israel: “The United States of America spends billions of dollars a year — far more than on any other nation — protecting and supporting Israel. We are not going to stand for this.”
He also claimed Netanyahu was currently in talks with Hamas over a potential deal, though offered no specifics. Trump told reporters Friday he believed a ceasefire was near.
While Hamas has signaled willingness to release remaining hostages in Gaza as part of a broader agreement, Israel has maintained it will not end the war unless Hamas is disarmed and dismantled — a condition the militant group rejects.
Efforts to resolve the Gaza conflict have intensified since the U.S. and Israel launched joint strikes this month on Iranian nuclear facilities.
