President Donald Trump is usually the one dispensing pardons and commutations, but in a stunning role reversal this week, it was Trump who was seeking a dispensation of clemency for a friend from another nation's president.

On Wednesday, an official letter was received from Trump by Israeli President Isaac Herzog that requested a pardon for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, according to Breitbart.

Netanyahu is currently facing multiple trials on an array of criminal charges -- including bribery, corruption, and fraud -- that many supporters and neutral observers believe are largely baseless and politically motivated.

Trump asks for a pardon for Netanyahu

An official letter was received on Wednesday by Israeli President Herzog from U.S. President Trump that referenced the current ceasefire halting the conflict against Hamas in Gaza, as well as Trump's appearance last month before the Knesset, Israel's parliamentary body.

"As the Great State of Israel and the amazing Jewish People move past the terribly difficult times of the last three years," Trump wrote, "I hereby call on you to fully pardon Benjamin Netanyahu, who has been a formidable and decisive wartime Prime Minister, and is now leading Israel into a time of peace, which includes my continued work with key Middle East leaders to add many additional countries to the world changing Abraham Accords."

"Prime Minister Netanyahu has stood tall for Israel in the face of strong adversaries and long odds, and his attention cannot be unnecessarily diverted," he continued. "While I absolutely respect the independence of the Israeli Justice System, and its requirements, I believe that this 'case' against Bibi, who has fought alongside me for a long time, including against the very tough adversary of Israel, Iran, is a political, unjustified prosecution."

Trump appealed to the "great relationship" he and Herzog have formed, and highlighted the peace agreements and hostage returns they achieved together.

He concluded, "Now that we have achieved these unprecedented successes, and are keeping Hamas in check, it is time to let Bibi unite Israel by pardoning him, and ending that lawfare once and for all."

Pardon initially requested in person

Breitbart noted that it was roughly one month earlier that President Trump, perhaps half jokingly, requested in person of President Herzog a pardon for Prime Minister Netanyahu during his address to the Knesset to mark the end of the fighting in Gaza.

"I have an idea: Mr. President, why don't you give him a pardon? Give him a pardon," Trump said to Herzog about Netanyahu, prompting loud cheers and a lengthy standing ovation from about half of the gathered lawmakers.

"By the way, that was not in the speech, as you probably know," he added with a laugh. "But I happen to like this gentleman right over here, and it just seems to make so much sense. You know, whether you like it or not, this has been one of the great wartime presidents ... and, cigars and champagne, who the hell cares about that?"

Mixed reactions to Trump's request

According to Breitbart, Netanyahu is on trial for allegedly receiving bribes, including expensive cigars and champagne, as well as allegedly trading regulatory favors with media outlets in exchange for positive coverage -- which he never really received.

There have been many observations made, by supporters and others, about the weak and politically motivated criminal charges brought against Netanyahu by oppositional Israeli prosecutors, and Trump's move on behalf of the embattled Israeli leader was heralded by many of Netanyahu's backers.

However, some detractors decried Trump's request as an example of unacceptable foreign interference in Israeli affairs, and Breitbart noted that Herzog's office issued a carefully worded and coy response to the American president's intervention.