Trump Vows Netanyahu Will Not Be Arrested in US
Donald Trump has publicly rebuked New York City mayor Zohran Mamdani's threat to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, asserting that Netanyahu will not be detained "in any way, shape or form" while in the United States. The former president's statement came after Mamdani suggested his administration was considering arresting Netanyahu when he arrives in New York for the United Nations General Assembly in September.
Mamdani's Threat and ICC Warrant
Mamdani, a Democrat, said his administration is engaged in an “active conversation” about whether to arrest Netanyahu, who faces an International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant issued in November 2024. The ICC accuses Netanyahu of war crimes and crimes against humanity related to the Gaza conflict, including "starvation as a method of warfare" and "intentionally directing an attack against the civilian population."
"When it comes to Netanyahu, we’re speaking about someone who is the subject of an ICC arrest warrant," Mamdani told a press conference on Monday. "He’s the subject of this warrant for alleged crimes against humanity, for war crimes, and he’s the architect of the genocide against Palestinians in Gaza. These are not facts of my assessment; they are facts of public record." The mayor added that he believes the warrant should be honored and that the city would "follow our local laws."
Trump's Social Media Response
Shortly after Mamdani's remarks, Trump took to Truth Social to denounce the threat. He wrote: "Netanyahu will not be arrested, in any way, shape, or form, while in the United States of America." Trump further stated: "The only ones that should be arrested are the people that led Iran into this unprecedented SPIRAL OF DEATH AND DESTRUCTION, something that should have been dealt with years ago, by previous Presidents!"
Netanyahu's Reaction and Legal Uncertainty
Netanyahu also blasted Mamdani, referring to the ICC as "a kangaroo court that has no jurisdiction over Americans or Israelis." His office issued a statement on X, noting that the arrest warrant was issued by former ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan, who later faced allegations of sexual misconduct. The statement urged Mamdani to focus on fixing New York rather than "attacking the leader of the Jewish state."
Legal analysts have indicated it would be "a practical impossibility" for Mamdani to orchestrate Netanyahu's arrest, as the mayor acknowledged uncertainty about whether he has the authority to direct the NYPD to apprehend a foreign head of state. "Whatever the law allows me to do in New York City, that's what we will do," Mamdani said. "But we won't be writing our own laws to that end."
Broader Context
The ICC warrant accuses Netanyahu of being responsible for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. Mamdani previously stated he believes Netanyahu "belongs in the Hague," calling him "a war criminal who has been charged by the International Criminal Court." The controversy highlights the tension between local political stances and federal foreign policy, as well as the legal complexities surrounding the arrest of a foreign leader.
