Trump Defends Netanyahu Amid Arrest Claims

President Donald Trump has assured that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will not be facing arrest during his upcoming visit to the United States. This statement comes despite repeated assertions from New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, a Democrat, who has claimed that Netanyahu “belongs in The Hague.”

On Monday, Trump took to Truth Social to clarify his stance, emphasizing that Netanyahu is “fighting against the Islamic Republic of Iran.”

“Benjamin Netanyahu will not be arrested, in any way, shape, or form, while in the United States of America,” Trump declared. He highlighted Netanyahu’s ongoing battle against Iran, which he mentioned has killed many innocent individuals over the years.

Mamdani has openly called for Netanyahu’s arrest on several occasions, citing a warrant from the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued in 2024. Most recently, he advocated for this during an episode of the New York Times podcast “The Interview.”

“I believe that Prime Minister Netanyahu belongs in the Hague,” Mamdani stated.

He expressed further concerns, calling Netanyahu a war criminal facing charges from the ICC, and noted that many share this opinion due to Netanyahu’s actions over the years.

Mamdani emphasized the significance of the ICC’s warrant and reiterated his commitment to abiding by local laws as New York City’s mayor.

The ICC’s 2024 ruling accused Netanyahu of committing “war crimes of starvation as a method of warfare,” as well as other crimes against humanity, according to their statement.

However, detractors point out that these calls might be futile since the U.S. is not a member of the ICC, which means local municipalities cannot interfere with or facilitate the arrest of foreign leaders, as noted by legal experts.

They added that attempting to arrest Netanyahu would be a “practical impossibility” and might lead to legal conflicts with the U.S. government.

While Mamdani acknowledged these legal restrictions, he insisted he would act within the bounds of the law in New York City.

In a separate radio interview, Netanyahu was asked about the possibility of facing arrest upon his arrival in the U.S. this September.

“No, I’m not,” Netanyahu replied, suggesting that Mamdani should recognize Israel as a democracy aligned with American values.

He further criticized Mamdani, claiming he apologizes for Iran and positions himself alongside terror organizations, indicating that this undermines American interests.

Leaders from around the world are scheduled to gather in New York this September for the annual General Assembly session, which Netanyahu has historically attended.