Trump Vows to Protect Netanyahu from Arrest in New York Amid ICC Warrant

US President Donald Trump has asserted that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, a close ally, will not be arrested while on American territory. The statement came after New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani indicated his administration was exploring steps to detain Netanyahu should he visit the city.

“Benjamin Netanyahu will not be arrested, in any way, shape, or form, while in the United States,” Trump stated via social media. He added, “He is fighting the Islamic Republic of Iran, which recently killed 52,000 innocent protesters, and has spent 47 years killing American soldiers and others.” Trump further argued that those responsible for dragging Iran into a spiral of death and destruction should be the ones facing arrest.

Netanyahu is the subject of an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity linked to the war in Gaza. The Israeli Prime Minister recently postponed a visit to the US from July to September, during which he is expected to attend the United Nations General Assembly at its headquarters in New York City.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani told the New York Times that his administration’s legal department was actively discussing the possibility of arresting Netanyahu if he set foot in the city. “I believe that Prime Minister Netanyahu should be tried in The Hague,” Mamdani said, referring to the ICC’s headquarters in the Netherlands. He described Netanyahu as a war criminal indicted by the international court, adding that many people share this view due to the impact of his actions in recent years. The ICC stated in 2024 that there were substantial grounds to believe Netanyahu bore responsibility for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity related to Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip.