United States President Donald Trump has declared that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will not be arrested if he visits the United States, amid renewed debate over an International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant issued against the Israeli leader.
Trump made the statement in a post on his Truth Social platform, insisting that Netanyahu would not face arrest while on American soil.
“Benjamin Netanyahu will not be arrested, in any way, shape, or form, while in the United States of America,” Trump wrote.
His remarks come after the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu in 2024, accusing him of alleged war crimes linked to Israel’s military campaign in Gaza. Israel has rejected both the allegations and the ICC’s jurisdiction.
Although Trump did not mention New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani by name, his statement followed comments by the mayor indicating that New York’s legal department was reviewing whether any legal obligations could arise if Netanyahu visits the city.
Speaking during The New York Times podcast, The Interview, Mamdani said:
“I believe that Prime Minister Netanyahu belongs in The Hague. He’s a war criminal who has been charged by the International Criminal Court.”
Netanyahu is expected to travel to New York in September to attend the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), where world leaders gather annually.
Reacting to Mamdani’s remarks, the Israeli government dismissed the ICC’s arrest warrant, describing the court as a “kangaroo court” and calling the warrant against Netanyahu “bogus.”
In a post on X, the Israeli government also accused the mayor of attempting to shift attention away from domestic issues.
The International Criminal Court, headquartered in The Hague, was established to prosecute individuals accused of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes. However, neither the United States nor Israel is a member of the ICC, and both countries have consistently rejected the court’s jurisdiction over their officials.
