Trump Urges Pardon, Pledges Help for Netanyahu

In a CBS '60 Minutes' interview, President Donald Trump said Washington will 'be involved' in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's criminal trial to 'help him out a little bit,' arguing the premier has been treated unfairly in three corruption cases alleging bribery, fraud and breach of trust, which Netanyahu denies. Trump said he has urged Israeli President Isaac Herzog — including in a Knesset address — to pardon Netanyahu and called for the trial's cancellation. He said he pressured Netanyahu to apologize to Qatar after a botched strike and to agree to a Gaza ceasefire, and praised Netanyahu as the wartime leader Israel needs. When asked whether he could push Netanyahu to recognize a Palestinian state, Trump dodged the question. The comments come alongside Trump's recent record of issuing pardons since returning to the White House, a fact observers say could signal a possible avenue for U.S. involvement in Israel's domestic legal affairs.