'In No Way, Shape Or Form': Trump Says Netanyahu Won't Face Arrest In US After Mamdani Threat
'In No Way, Shape Or Form': Trump Says Netanyahu Won't Face Arrest In US After Mamdani Threat Published By, Last Updated: July 20, 2026, 23:56
'In No Way, Shape Or Form': Trump Says Netanyahu Won't Face Arrest In US After Mamdani Threat Published By, Last Updated: July 20, 2026, 23:56 IST Mamdani had said he was seeking legal advice on the extent of the mayor's powers regarding foreign leaders wanted by the ICC. Netanyahu's office dismissed Mamdani's comments and criticised his position on the possible arrest. (AFP file photos) US President Donald Trump on Monday vowed that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would not face arrest during the United Nations summit in New York, after the city’s new mayor, Zohran Mamdani, said he was examining whether such a move was possible. “Benjamin Netanyahu will not be arrested, in any way, shape, or form, while in the United States of America," Trump wrote on Truth Social. The US president further said that the Israeli prime minister was fighting against Iran, adding, “He is fighting against the Islamic Republic of Iran, which recently killed 52,000 innocent protestors, and has spent the last 47 years killing American Soldiers, and others." Trump further said that those responsible for leading Iran into an “unprecedented SPIRAL OF DEATH AND DESTRUCTION" should be arrested, adding that the issue “should have been dealt with years ago, by previous Presidents." In an interview with The New York Times on Saturday, Mamdani said he was unsure whether he had the authority to order police to detain a foreign leader but confirmed that he was discussing the matter with his legal team ahead of the UN General Assembly in September.
The Hague-based International Criminal Court (ICC) said in 2024 that there were reasonable grounds to believe Netanyahu was responsible for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity linked to Israel’s military campaign in Gaza following the October 7, 2023 cross-border attack by Hamas. Mamdani also said he believed Netanyahu should face justice at the ICC, adding, “He’s a war criminal who has been charged by the International Criminal Court." “Whatever the law allows me to do in New York City, that’s what we will do," the New York City mayor said. Mamdani has previously said he would use the New York Police Department to enforce ICC arrest warrants against leaders wanted by the court, including Netanyahu and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Netanyahu Office Rejects Mamdani’s Statement Netanyahu’s office dismissed Mamdani’s comments and criticised his position on the possible arrest. “Mr Mamdani should focus on fixing the damage his policies have caused New York," Netanyahu’s office said in a post on its official X account. The Israeli PM’s office also attacked the ICC, calling it as a “kangaroo court" and saying it had no jurisdiction over Americans or Israelis.
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