Trump Says Israeli President Told Him Netanyahu Pardon Is Near; Herzog’s Office Disputes Claim

JERUSALEM — U.S. President Donald Trump said Monday that Israeli President Isaac Herzog told him a pardon for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was imminent, a claim Herzog’s office quickly denied.

Trump made the remarks during a meeting with Netanyahu in Florida, describing the Israeli leader as a wartime prime minister and suggesting a pardon was inevitable. Trump said he believed Herzog had indicated such a move was forthcoming.

Within minutes, Herzog’s office issued a statement rejecting that account, saying there had been no direct conversation between Herzog and Trump since a formal pardon request was submitted last month by Netanyahu’s attorneys.

The president’s office said Herzog did speak several weeks ago with a representative acting on Trump’s behalf, who inquired about a letter Trump sent urging a pardon. During that exchange, Herzog’s office said, an explanation was provided about the status of the request and that any decision would follow established legal procedures.

Trump has publicly pressed Herzog for months to grant Netanyahu a full pardon in his long-running corruption trial. Netanyahu is charged with bribery, fraud and breach of trust in three cases involving allegations of exchanging favors with wealthy associates and media interests. He denies wrongdoing.

Herzog has said he would consider a pardon request only after it was formally filed, which occurred last month without an admission of guilt. After receiving the request, Herzog said he would review it carefully with the country’s interests in mind.

Legal experts in Israel note that while an admission of guilt is not legally required for a pardon, such requests before a conviction are rare. Opposition figures have criticized the request and urged Herzog to reject it.