US President Donald Trump has joked that he is not currently a target of the International Criminal Court (ICC) as his administration intensifies efforts to challenge the authority of the international tribunal.
Speaking on Friday during a cabinet meeting at the Camp David presidential retreat, Trump interrupted Secretary of State Marco Rubio while the latter was reiterating the United States’ opposition to the ICC.
“By the way, there’s no information that they’re after me,” Trump joked, before adding, “It could happen,” drawing laughter from those present.
The president also claimed that Rubio’s criticism of the ICC was not about protecting him personally.
“He’s not trying to defend me. He is trying to defend Bibi and various other people,” Trump said, referring to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is the subject of an ICC arrest warrant issued in 2024.
The remarks come as the United States continues its diplomatic campaign against the ICC, urging member countries to withdraw from the court and threatening additional sanctions.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio described the ICC as lacking legitimacy and said previous efforts to reform the institution had failed.
“The ICC is an illegitimate international organization,” Rubio said.
“We tried to get them to reform and listen to us. They wouldn’t do it. They’re very arrogant. We’ve now begun an effort to really try to bring that court to heel,” he added.
Rubio also noted that five countries have either withdrawn or announced plans to leave the ICC, expressing hope that more nations would follow.
The International Criminal Court, established in 2002 and headquartered in The Hague, prosecutes individuals accused of genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity and other serious international offences when national authorities are unwilling or unable to do so.
Neither the United States nor Israel is a member of the treaty that created the ICC.
The latest comments come amid escalating tensions between Washington and the court, with several ICC judges already facing sanctions imposed by the US government.
Source: AFP
