President Donald Trump has issued a stark ultimatum to Israel: drop the corruption charges against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu or risk losing billions in U.S. aid. The warning, delivered in a Truth Social post over the weekend, marks the second time in recent days that Trump has directly intervened in Netanyahu’s ongoing legal troubles.
Calling the Israeli prime minister’s prosecution a “political witch hunt,” Trump likened the case to his own legal battles and downplayed the allegations as trivial—referencing items like cigars and a Bugs Bunny doll. He argued that Netanyahu’s time is better spent dealing with urgent foreign policy matters, including negotiations with Iran and Hamas, rather than in court.
“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,” Trump wrote, warning that Netanyahu’s trial could jeopardize what he described as a “great victory” achieved during the Israeli leader’s tenure.
“LET BIBI GO”: Trump Pressures Israeli Judiciary
Trump’s post was unambiguous in its demand: Netanyahu’s charges must be dropped immediately. Writing in all caps, Trump declared, “LET BIBI GO,” insisting the prime minister should be free to focus on governing.
Netanyahu is currently on trial in three separate corruption cases, which allege he accepted expensive gifts and political favors in exchange for regulatory benefits and favorable media coverage. Israeli prosecutors have maintained that the charges are serious and are being handled according to the country’s judicial process.
Despite the legal proceedings, Netanyahu appeared receptive to Trump’s support. He reshared the post on his official X account (formerly Twitter), thanking the former president and vowing that they would together “Make the Middle East Great Again.”
U.S.-Israel Alliance Under Pressure
Trump’s threat to withhold aid is a dramatic escalation that could redefine the U.S.-Israel relationship. The U.S. provides more than $3.8 billion annually in military assistance to Israel, making it one of Washington’s largest foreign aid recipients. Conditioning that aid on interference in a domestic legal case would be highly unorthodox in U.S. foreign policy.
The move signals Trump’s willingness to use American financial support as leverage—not only in international diplomacy, but in the internal affairs of U.S. allies.
While Trump’s post was met with praise from some of Netanyahu’s supporters, critics warned it sets a dangerous precedent for politicizing judicial processes and could strain long-standing bipartisan support for Israel in Washington.
