Trump Rejects New York Mayor's Threat to Arrest Netanyahu During UN Visit

Former U.S. President Donald Trump directly responded to New York City Mayor Eric Adams' threats to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during his expected visit to the UN General Assembly in September. In a post on his Truth Social account on Monday evening, Trump firmly stated that Netanyahu would not be arrested "in any way, shape, or form" in the United States. Trump emphasized that those who should be arrested are the individuals responsible for Iran's destructive actions, citing Iran's recent killing of 52,000 peaceful protesters and its long history of targeting American soldiers.

Mayor Adams had told The New York Times that he still intends to pursue Netanyahu's arrest if he comes to New York, although he is uncertain whether he has the legal authority to order the NYPD to detain a foreign leader. Adams said he is in active discussions with the city's legal department and will act within the limits of local law. He reiterated his view that Netanyahu is a war criminal wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for crimes against humanity and war crimes, including orchestrating what Adams called a genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.

Despite Trump's dismissal, Adams maintained his position, stressing the seriousness of the ICC arrest warrant and comparing Netanyahu to other figures like Vladimir Putin. A source in Adams' office explained that the legal review is partly to provide the mayor with an exit strategy if the arrest proves legally impossible, allowing him to demonstrate he tried to act. Even if an arrest cannot be made, Adams' office said they could still make Netanyahu and his delegation unwelcome in New York, citing a precedent when Mayor Rudy Giuliani expelled Yasser Arafat from a UN concert in 1995.

Adams' stance drew criticism from some Democrats, including Congressman Ro Khanna, who opposed causing a scene at the UN, and Senator Jon Tester, who called Adams a "clown" and noted that the U.S. does not recognize the ICC's authority. Netanyahu's office condemned both Adams and the ICC, calling the arrest warrant "fake" and politically motivated by former ICC prosecutor Karim Khan amid his own scandals. They highlighted Israel's efforts under Netanyahu to minimize civilian harm during conflict with Hamas, labeling Hamas a genocidal terrorist group using Palestinians as human shields. Netanyahu's team accused Adams of trying to distract from his own failures by attacking Israel's leader and democracy in the Middle East.