Trump Vows Netanyahu Will Not Be Arrested During US Visit Amid NYC Mayor's Threat

US President Donald Trump firmly defended Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu against threats of arrest during his potential visit to the United States for the UN General Assembly in September. The controversy arose after New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani suggested the city was exploring the legal possibility of arresting Netanyahu based on International Criminal Court arrest warrants. Mamdani, however, admitted uncertainty about his authority to order such an arrest and pledged to act within the law.

In response, Trump declared unequivocally that Netanyahu would not be arrested "in any way, shape, or form" while in the US. He praised Netanyahu for fighting against Iran, which Trump accused of killing 52,000 innocent protesters recently and being responsible for the deaths of American soldiers over the past 47 years. Trump criticized previous US presidents for failing to address Iran's actions sooner.

The US Ambassador to the UN, Mike Walz, also condemned Mamdani's proposal as "political theater," emphasizing that the US is not a member of the ICC and that heads of state enjoy diplomatic immunity during visits to the UN headquarters in New York. Netanyahu's office dismissed the arrest threat as a distraction from Mamdani's administrative failures. Netanyahu himself stated he was not concerned by the threats and planned to attend the UN General Assembly as scheduled if he chooses to do so.