Netanyahu Will Not Be Arrested In US, Trump Says
President Donald Trump has said that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will not be arrested during any visit to the United States. Trump made the statement on Monday in a post on Truth Social after New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said his administration was still reviewing possible legal options.
Trump wrote that Netanyahu would not be arrested “in any way, shape, or form” while on American soil. Although he did not mention Mamdani by name, he also praised Israel’s role during the recent conflict with Iran. The statement came as debate continued over an International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant issued against Netanyahu in 2024 over alleged war crimes during the Gaza war.
Trump Rules Out Netanyahu Arrest as Mamdani Reviews Legal Options
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said the city’s legal department is reviewing whether it has any legal authority to take action if Netanyahu enters the city. Speaking in an interview, he repeated his view that the Israeli prime minister should face justice over the Gaza war. Mamdani described Netanyahu as a war criminal and said he belongs in The Hague. He also referred to his campaign promise to seek Netanyahu’s arrest if he visited New York. Netanyahu is expected to travel to New York in September to attend the United Nations General Assembly. Trump, however, firmly rejected that possibility, creating a sharp political divide ahead of Netanyahu’s expected September visit.
The dispute has also exposed growing differences between the White House and New York City’s leadership. However, legal experts say detaining a visiting foreign leader would raise complex constitutional, diplomatic, and international legal questions.
Israel Rejects ICC Authority as Legal Debate Continues
Israel has dismissed the International Criminal Court’s arrest warrant against Netanyahu as “bogus” and has described the ICC as a “kangaroo court.” In a statement posted on X, the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office accused Mamdani of using the issue to distract from his own political controversies. It also defended Netanyahu and criticized what it called an attack on the leader of the Jewish state.
However, neither the United States nor Israel is a member of the ICC, meaning Washington has no legal obligation to enforce its warrants. Legal experts also note that foreign leaders attending the United Nations generally receive diplomatic immunity, making any attempt to arrest Netanyahu in New York highly unlikely. As the United Nations General Assembly approaches, the dispute is expected to remain a closely watched legal and diplomatic issue.
Web Resources On Netanyahu Will Not Be Arrested In US
1. Reuters.com : Netanyahu will not be arrested in US, Trump says, as New York mayor mulls options.
2. US News.com : Netanyahu Will Not Be Arrested in US, Trump Says, as New York Mayor Mulls Options.
3. Forbes.com : Trump Vows Netanyahu Won’t Be Arrested After Mamdani Suggests Capture In NYC.