Washington D.C. – Web Desk: President Donald Trump has declared that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will “under no circumstances” be arrested in the United States, rebuking New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who had suggested his administration was reviewing the legal feasibility of such a move .
Trump’s Directive
In a strongly worded social media post, Trump asserted his administration would not allow any action against Netanyahu during his expected visit in September for the UN General Assembly, stating: “We will not allow American soil to be used for political persecution.”
Controversy Over Legality
Mayor Mamdani had publicly stated that the city was “exploring every legal avenue” following the International Criminal Court’s arrest warrant against Netanyahu for alleged war crimes in Gaza . Trump, however, dismissed these legal considerations, stating, “The ICC has no jurisdiction, and we will not allow this to happen,” framing it as a foreign attack on a US ally .
International and Domestic Reactions
Netanyahu’s office has dismissed the ICC’s moves as “biased and baseless” and expressed confidence in US protection . Foreign diplomats in New York have privately expressed concern that Trump’s intervention could set a dangerous precedent regarding international law . The incident has intensified the political debate within the US, with Trump critics accusing him of shielding an ally from justice, while his supporters view it as a necessary defense of national sovereignty .
