Donald Trump’s pardon machine finally broke down, and now his buddy’s about to face the music for every atrocity
Quest for survival.
Donald Trump’s relentless push to shield his longtime ally Benjamin Netanyahu from legal consequences has finally hit a wall. Israeli president Isaac Herzog made it clear on April 26, 2026, that he won’t even consider Netanyahu’s pardon request until every possible plea deal has been exhausted. That’s a major blow to Trump’s pardon machine, which has spent years trying to bulldoze its way through legal norms to protect its friends.
Herzog’s statement was blunt. According to Reuters, he believes a negotiated agreement outside the courtroom is the best path forward in Netanyahu’s corruption trial, and he’s not budging until those efforts are fully explored. That means Netanyahu’s pardon request, submitted back in November, is effectively on ice for now.
Under Israeli law, the president does have the authority to pardon convicts, but there’s no precedent for issuing one mid-trial. And Herzog isn’t about to set one, especially with the trial resuming this week after years of delays.
This isn’t the first time Trump has tried to strong-arm Herzog into action
Back in March, during the height of the Iran conflict, Trump publicly urged Herzog to grant Netanyahu a pardon while the trial was paused. It was just the latest in a long line of attempts to interfere in Israel’s legal system. Trump has called Herzog “disgraceful” for refusing to play ball, even telling reporters in February that the Israeli president should be “ashamed” of himself, according to Al Jazeera.
Trump’s pressure campaign has been relentless. During a speech at the Knesset last October, he stood at the lectern and directly asked Herzog, “Mr. President, why don’t you give him a pardon?” He even joked about the bribery charges, brushing off allegations that Netanyahu accepted luxury gifts like cigars and champagne.
“Cigars and champagne – who the hell cares about it?” Trump said, as if the rule of law were some kind of punchline. But Herzog isn’t laughing. His office has repeatedly stressed that any pardon request must follow Israel’s legal procedures, and that’s exactly what’s happening now.
Netanyahu’s legal troubles aren’t new
The investigations into his alleged bribery, fraud, and breach of trust began nearly a decade ago, and the indictment in 2019 sent Israeli politics into a tailspin. The country has held five elections since then, with the next one looming by October 2026.
Netanyahu, who denies all charges, is the first sitting Israeli prime minister to be criminally charged. His trial, which began in 2020, has been repeatedly delayed by geopolitical chaos, including the ongoing war in Gaza. But now, with the trial resuming, the pressure is back on.
Trump’s fixation on Netanyahu’s legal fate isn’t just about loyalty; it’s about survival. The two leaders have a lot in common. They are right-wing firebrands who’ve built careers out of defying expectations and dodging scandals.
Both have faced multiple investigations, yet somehow managed to cling to power. And both have relied on a mix of legal maneuvering, political theater, and sheer audacity to stay afloat. But this time, Trump’s usual playbook isn’t working. Herzog isn’t bending, and Israel’s legal system isn’t backing down.
Bibi isn’t just fighting domestic charges
He’s also facing an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court over war crimes in Gaza, including allegations that Israel used starvation as a weapon of war. That’s a far cry from the “cigars and champagne” quip Trump made last year.
Herzog, despite his reputation as a more moderate figure compared to Netanyahu, has been just as uncompromising in defending Israel’s actions in Gaza. Early in the war, he claimed that “an entire nation” of Palestinians was responsible for Hamas’s October 7 attack, a statement that human rights groups and UN investigators have cited as evidence of genocidal intent.
Herzog’s refusal to fast-track Netanyahu’s pardon request is a rare moment of pushback against Trump’s interference. The Israeli presidency’s statement in response to Trump’s February outburst was diplomatic but firm. It acknowledged Trump’s “significant contribution to the State of Israel and its security” but made it clear that Israel is a “sovereign state governed by the rule of law.”
For Netanyahu, the timing couldn’t be worse. His trial is resuming just as Israel’s political landscape is more volatile than ever. The war in Gaza has divided the country, and his leadership is under fire from all sides. His legal troubles are a liability. With Herzog refusing to intervene, he is out of options.
A plea deal might be his best shot at avoiding a conviction, but even that would come with political consequences. His far-right coalition partners have already made it clear they won’t tolerate any admission of guilt.
Trump’s pardon machine has worked before. He’s used it to shield allies, reward loyalists, and even protect himself from legal fallout. But this time, it’s different. Herzog isn’t playing along, and Israel’s legal system isn’t bending to outside pressure. Netanyahu is finally facing the music, and Trump’s usual tricks aren’t enough to save him. That’s a problem for both of them.
If Netanyahu goes down, it could set a precedent that even the most powerful politicians aren’t above the law. And for Trump, who’s spent years trying to normalize legal impunity for himself and his allies, that’s a dangerous precedent indeed.
Have a tip we should know? [email protected]
