鬼百合
Let It Burn!
Trump Implicitly Threatens U.S. Aid to Israel Unless Netanyahu's Criminal Trial Cancelled
President Trump escalated his criticism of Israel over Prime Minister Netanyahu's corruption trial, warning that the U.S. spends billions on the country and 'we are not going to stand for this'
WASHINGTON – U.S. President Donald Trump on Saturday dramatically expanded his attacks on the State of Israel over Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's ongoing criminal corruption trial, implicitly warning that the $3.8 billion in annual U.S. military assistance to Israel may be compromised unless the charges are dismissed.
While Trump's Truth Social post earlier this week marked an unprecedented intervention from a U.S. president into a foreign democratic ally's judicial proceedings, his broaching of U.S. military aid – long considered an "unbreakable" tenet of the bilateral relationship – brings his criticism into truly uncharted waters.
"It is terrible what they are doing in Israel to Bibi Netanyahu. He is a War Hero, and a Prime Minister who did a fabulous job working with the United States to bring Great Success in getting rid of the dangerous Nuclear threat in Iran. Importantly, he is right now in the process of negotiating a Deal with Hamas, which will include getting the Hostages back," Trump posted nearly 24 hours after he said he believed a Gaza cease-fire/hostage-release deal could be achieved within the week.
"How is it possible that the Prime Minister of Israel can be forced to sit in a Courtroom all day long, over NOTHING (Cigars, Bugs Bunny Doll, etc.). It is a POLITICAL WITCH HUNT, very similar to the Witch Hunt that I was forced to endure," he continued, once again comparing Netanyahu's criminal proceedings with his own indictment and conviction in the U.S. prior to his 2024 electoral victory.
Trump continued that "this travesty of 'Justice' will interfere with both Iran and Hamas negotiations. In other words, it is INSANITY doing what the out-of-control prosecutors are doing to Bibi Netanyahu. The United States of America spends Billions of Dollar a year, far more than on any other Nation, protecting and supporting Israel. We are not going to stand for this."
"We just had a Great Victory with Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu at the helm — And this greatly tarnishes our Victory," Trump concluded. "LET BIBI GO, HE'S GOT A BIG JOB TO DO!"
Trump's initial posts came shortly after he excoriated Netanyahu, both on the White House lawn and during a phone call immediately thereafter, for jeopardizing the cease-fire Trump brokered between Israel and Iran. In the days since, however, he has done nothing but praise Netanyahu.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in court in Tel Aviv in June.Credit: Moti Milrod
Trump called for the release of the hostages and a cease-fire in Gaza later on Sunday in a Truth Social post: "MAKE THE DEAL IN GAZA. GET THE HOSTAGES BACK."
Netanyahu is Israel's first ever serving prime minister to take the defendant's stand, and he already holds the distinction of being the first sitting Israeli prime minister to be criminally indicted. He has been indicted on three criminal charges: bribery, fraud and breach of trust in three separate criminal cases. The theme of all three cases is Netanyahu's cultivation of relations, for personal and political benefit, with powerful, rich men who owned or had influence over key media outlets.
Trump and his supporters have previously used Israel as a political cudgel against Democrats, warning that former U.S. Presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden, as well as presidential nominee Kamala Harris, would compromise U.S. assistance to Israel over its conduct toward the Palestinians. For Trump to broach U.S. aid – not in relation to the ongoing Gaza humanitarian crisis but over a "witchhunt" targeting Netanyahu – is truly remarkable in its own right.
