Trump: "Netanyahu Will Not Be Arrested in the United States"
President Donald Trump firmly stated that Benjamin Netanyahu faces no risk of arrest while on U.S. soil.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump wrote:
"Benjamin Netanyahu will not be arrested, in any way, shape, or form, while in the United States of America."
Although he did not directly mention New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani, Trump reaffirmed Washington's full support for the Israeli leader and praised Israel's role during the recent conflict with Iran.
The New York Mayor's Position
Trump's comments followed an interview in which New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said the city's legal department was examining what legal authority might exist should Netanyahu visit New York.
According to Mamdani:
"I believe Prime Minister Netanyahu belongs in The Hague. He is a war criminal charged by the International Criminal Court."
During his mayoral campaign, Mamdani had already pledged that he would order city police to arrest Netanyahu if he entered New York.
The International Criminal Court Arrest Warrant
In 2024, the International Criminal Court (ICC), based in The Hague, issued an arrest warrant for Benjamin Netanyahu over alleged war crimes committed during the Gaza conflict.
Israel strongly rejects both the accusations and the court's jurisdiction, arguing that the ICC has no legal authority over the Israeli state.
The United States also does not recognize the court's jurisdiction, as it is not a party to the Rome Statute.
Israel Rejects the ICC Decision
Israeli officials strongly criticized Mamdani's remarks.
In a post on X, Israel described the ICC warrant as:
- "bogus";
- issued by a "kangaroo court."
Israeli officials also accused Mamdani of attempting to distract attention from his own political difficulties by targeting the leader of the Jewish state.
Netanyahu Expected at the UN General Assembly
As in previous years, Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to travel to New York in September to attend the United Nations General Assembly.
The mayor's remarks have therefore reignited legal and political debate over whether the ICC warrant could theoretically be enforced on American soil.
Trump's statement appears intended to eliminate any such possibility before Netanyahu's visit.
Washington and Israel United Against the ICC
The episode once again highlights the common position shared by Washington and Jerusalem regarding the International Criminal Court.
Both governments maintain that the ICC lacks jurisdiction over their countries and reject the legitimacy of legal proceedings targeting Israeli leaders.
Trump's intervention further reinforces the United States' diplomatic support for Netanyahu.
A Debate That Is Far From Over
The controversy unfolds amid broader tensions linked to the Middle East conflict and Israel's increasingly complex diplomatic relations within international institutions.
Although Netanyahu's arrest in the United States remains highly unlikely in practice, the exchange between Mamdani and Trump illustrates how deeply divided international opinion remains over the authority and legitimacy of the International Criminal Court.