Trump Assures Netanyahu Will Not Be Arrested in US Amid War Crimes Arrest Threat

US President Donald Trump responded on Monday to New York City Mayor Zoran Mamdani's statements calling Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a "war criminal" and asserting that Netanyahu should be arrested and tried at the International Criminal Court in The Hague. Trump firmly stated that Netanyahu "will not be arrested, in any way or form, while in the United States." On his social media platform TRUTH, Trump praised Netanyahu for fighting against the Islamic Republic of Iran, which he accused of killing 52,000 peaceful protesters and spending decades killing American soldiers and others. Trump criticized previous US presidents for failing to address Iran's actions sooner, saying the only people who should be arrested are those responsible for Iran's destructive policies.

Mamdani had told the program "The Interview" that he is working to issue an arrest warrant for Netanyahu if he attends the UN General Assembly in New York this September. He said he is in active discussions with the city's legal department to determine the authority to carry out such an arrest under New York law. Mamdani described Netanyahu as a war criminal indicted by the ICC and insisted that no new laws would be enacted to facilitate the arrest, only existing legal frameworks would be used.

Netanyahu responded to Mamdani's remarks the previous evening, dismissing the ICC as a "kangaroo court" lacking jurisdiction over Americans or Israelis. He accused Mamdani of deflecting from his own administrative failures in New York by attacking Israel's leader and the only Jewish democracy in the Middle East. Netanyahu also condemned ICC prosecutor Karim Khan, who issued the arrest warrants, noting that Khan faced sexual misconduct allegations shortly after issuing the warrants and accusing him of trying to divert public attention.

The dispute highlights tensions surrounding Netanyahu's potential visit to the US and ongoing international legal challenges against him. Mamdani's efforts to pursue an arrest warrant remain uncertain, while Trump’s unequivocal support signals strong US backing for Netanyahu during his stay in America.