President Donald Trump on Monday rejected New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s suggestion that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu could be arrested if he visits New York, saying the Israeli leader would not be detained while in the United States.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump wrote that “Benjamin Netanyahu will not be arrested, in any way, shape, or form, while in the United States of America.”
Although Trump did not mention Mamdani by name, the statement came days after the mayor said his administration was exploring what legal options might exist if Netanyahu attends the United Nations General Assembly in New York this September.
Trump defended Netanyahu as a key ally against Iran and argued that Iranian leaders, not the Israeli prime minister, should face arrest.
“The only ones that should be arrested are the people that led Iran into this unprecedented spiral of death and destruction,” Trump wrote.
Mamdani has previously argued that Netanyahu should be detained because of the International Criminal Court’s 2024 arrest warrant related to the war in Gaza. However, the United States does not recognise the ICC’s jurisdiction over such matters.
During an interview with The New York Times’ “The Interview” podcast, Mamdani said he believes “Netanyahu belongs in The Hague” and described him as “a war criminal who has been charged by the International Criminal Court.” He also said that, as mayor, he would follow US law and would not attempt to create new legal authority for an arrest.
Legal experts have noted that local officials do not have the power to enforce ICC warrants in the United States, and federal law limits cooperation with the court in such cases.
The dispute has added another layer of tension to relations between Mamdani and Netanyahu. The Israeli leader has publicly criticised the mayor for his strong opposition to Israeli government policies.
The controversy is expected to intensify as the UN General Assembly, scheduled for September in New York, approaches. If Netanyahu attends, it would likely be his first visit to New York since Mamdani took office as mayor.
Trump has previously dismissed Mamdani’s arrest rhetoric, and his latest statement appeared intended to make clear that the federal government would not permit any attempt to detain the Israeli prime minister on US soil.