NYC Mayor Adams Calls Netanyahu 'War Criminal' and 'Architect of Genocide' at Trump Meeting

New York City Mayor Eric Adams referred to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as a "war criminal" and the "architect of a horrific genocide against the Palestinian people" during a meeting with former U.S. President Donald Trump. The encounter took place Tuesday evening at Gracie Mansion, the mayor's official residence, ahead of the UN General Assembly in New York, where Netanyahu is scheduled to speak.

Adams's strong condemnation also touched upon the International Criminal Court's arrest warrant request against Netanyahu. "If the ICC has determined that someone is worthy of arrest for violating those laws, who are we to claim that someone should be above that? I believe everyone should be held accountable," Adams stated.

This meeting was the third between Adams, a Democratic socialist, and Trump. Despite past public disagreements, including Trump calling Adams a "total communist lunatic," the two leaders have developed a cordial relationship. Their first meeting was in November 2025, followed by another in February where Adams presented Trump with a mock newspaper cover.

The current meeting occurred during Trump's visit to New York for the UN General Assembly. Prime Minister Netanyahu also arrived in the U.S. on Tuesday to address the assembly. Separately, President Trump commented on Iran's situation, stating, "Iran is doing very badly, I actually have conversations about it today."