US President Donald Trump has said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will not be arrested if he visits the United States despite ongoing debate over an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court and comments made by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani.
In a post on social media, Trump declared that Netanyahu would not face arrest anywhere in the United States. While he did not directly mention Mamdani, the statement came shortly after the New York mayor said his administration was reviewing what legal options might exist if the Israeli leader visits the city.
The International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu in 2024 over allegations of war crimes linked to the conflict in Gaza. Israel has strongly rejected the court’s authority and firmly denies all accusations, maintaining that its military actions complied with international law.
Trump’s remarks also praised Israel for its role during the recent conflict involving Iran, though he did not connect those comments to the debate surrounding the ICC warrant.
Speaking in a recent interview with The New York Times podcast The Interview, Mayor Mamdani said he believes Netanyahu should stand trial before the court in The Hague. He added that the city’s legal department is examining whether local authorities would have any legal authority to act if Netanyahu were to visit New York.
Netanyahu regularly travels to New York in September to attend the annual United Nations General Assembly, where world leaders gather for high level meetings and diplomatic discussions. His expected future visits have renewed questions about how countries and local governments would respond to the ICC warrant.
The Israeli government dismissed Mamdani’s comments and criticised the International Criminal Court. In a statement posted on social media, Israeli officials described the court’s decision as illegitimate and labelled the arrest warrant politically motivated. The statement also accused the mayor of targeting the leader of Israel instead of focusing on issues facing New York City.
The International Criminal Court was established in 2002 to investigate and prosecute individuals accused of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes. Although many countries recognise the court’s authority, neither the United States nor Israel is a member, and both have consistently challenged its jurisdiction over their citizens.
During his campaign for mayor, Mamdani had publicly stated that he would support efforts to have Netanyahu arrested if he entered New York. Since taking office in January, he has continued to express criticism of the Israeli prime minister while insisting that his administration is examining the legal limits of any possible action.
Despite those comments, Trump’s latest statement makes clear that his administration has no intention of allowing Netanyahu to be detained while on American soil. The issue highlights continuing disagreements between international legal institutions and governments that reject the authority of the ICC, while also reflecting the political divisions surrounding the war in Gaza and its global consequences.
