Speaking at a White House event, Trump said Netanyahu had done a great job during the war, and that the Israeli people should shame Herzog for not pardoning him. He added, "It's a disgrace that he didn't pardon him. He should have."
Netanyahu is the first Israeli prime minister to face charges while in office, and he denies charges of bribery, fraud and breach of trust since being indicted in 2019.
In response to Trump's criticism, Israeli President Isaac Herzog said in a statement from his office on Thursday that the issue of pardoning Netanyahu was "under review" and would be discussed "without any internal or external pressure."
Trump's latest invitation came a day after his meeting with Netanyahu on Wednesday in Washington, where they discussed the Iranian issue.
On more than one occasion, Trump called on the Israeli president to pardon Netanyahu, including during his speech to the Knesset in October 2025, and in a letter to Herzog the following month.
Trump's request sparked criticism within Israel for interfering in Israel's internal legal proceedings.
On November 30, Netanyahu asked Herzog to grant him clemency for the corruption charges against him, but without admitting guilt or retiring from political life.
Since the start of his trial in 2020, Netanyahu has refused to plead guilty, while Israeli law does not allow the president to grant a pardon except after an admission of guilt.
