Trump: Campaign Against ICC Protects Netanyahu, Not Me
US President reveals his administration's offensive against the International Criminal Court aims to shield the Israeli Prime Minister and others, not himself.
US President reveals his administration's offensive against the International Criminal Court aims to shield the Israeli Prime Minister and others, not himself.
US President Donald Trump said on Thursday, July 31, 2026, that his administration's campaign against the International Criminal Court (ICC) is not aimed at protecting him personally, but at defending Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and others, according to multiple sources.
Trump made the remarks during a cabinet meeting at the presidential retreat Camp David in Maryland, interrupting Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who reiterated US opposition to the Hague-based court.
"By the way, there's no indication they've come after me," Trump said, drawing laughter from cabinet members, but added that "it could happen," as reported by Vanguard News. He then clarified: "He's not trying to defend me. He's trying to defend Bibi and various other people," referring to Rubio and using Netanyahu's nickname.
The Trump administration launched a major diplomatic offensive against the ICC in mid-July 2026, promising new sanctions and urging partners to withdraw from the body. During the meeting, Rubio said that five countries have already announced plans to leave the court since the start of the US campaign, according to the Straits Times.
Chad and Venezuela are among the nations that have recently announced their withdrawal from the ICC. Rubio called the court an "illegitimate international organization," adding: "We tried to get them to reform and listen to us. They wouldn't. They're very arrogant. Now we've started an effort to really bring that court to heel," as quoted by Vanguard News.
Neither the US nor Israel are signatories to the international treaty that established the ICC in 2002. The court is responsible for prosecuting war crimes, genocide, and crimes against humanity when member states are unable or unwilling to prosecute perpetrators themselves.
The ICC issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu in November 2024 over alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Gaza conflict. Trump was re-elected president at that time, and his opposition to the court dates back to his first term.
During the meeting, Rubio highlighted that US soldiers are at the greatest risk, as they could face prosecution years later for their actions in war. He also cited activists' calls for the ICC to investigate US personnel over migrant deportations or attacks on ships that officials claim are transporting narcotics, as reported by the Jerusalem Post, citing Reuters.
Trump concluded: "There are a lot of people who shouldn't be looked at that way. But there's no indication that I'm one of them at this point." The administration has announced it will lobby other countries to leave the court and use travel bans and additional sanctions against the ICC and related organizations, which ICC judges and US advocacy groups are challenging in courts, arguing that the administration violates their free speech rights.
