WASHINGTON (MNN); US President Donald Trump on Monday declared that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would not face arrest while visiting the United States for the upcoming United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, following remarks by New York City’s new mayor that legal options were being examined.
In a post on social media, President Trump firmly rejected the possibility of any action against the Israeli premier.
“Benjamin Netanyahu will not be arrested, in any way, shape, or form, while in the United States of America,” Trump wrote, adding that Netanyahu was engaged in confronting the Islamic Republic of Iran.
The controversy emerged after New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said he was consulting legal advisers to determine whether the city has the authority to act on the International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant issued against Netanyahu ahead of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly scheduled for September.
Speaking to The New York Times, Mamdani reiterated his long-held criticism of the Israeli leader, saying he believed Netanyahu should stand trial in The Hague over allegations related to Israel’s military campaign in Gaza.
The ICC announced in 2024 that it had found reasonable grounds to believe Netanyahu could bear responsibility for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity committed during Israel’s military operations in Gaza following the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack.
Despite his criticism, Mayor Mamdani acknowledged that he was uncertain whether he possessed the legal authority to direct the New York Police Department (NYPD) to detain a visiting foreign head of government.
He said his administration was reviewing all available legal options and would act only within the limits of existing law.
“Whatever the law allows me to do in New York City, that’s what we will do. We won’t be writing our own laws,” Mamdani stated.
The mayor had previously pledged during his 2025 election campaign that he would seek Netanyahu’s arrest if the Israeli leader visited New York while an ICC warrant remained in force.
Netanyahu’s office dismissed the mayor’s comments, once again rejecting the legitimacy of the ICC and describing the court as politically motivated.
According to The New York Times, Netanyahu said he was unconcerned by the mayor’s remarks and accused Mamdani of sympathising with the Palestinian group Hamas.
In an interview with radio host Sid Rosenberg, the Israeli prime minister questioned the mayor’s political positions and criticised his previous comments regarding the Middle East conflict.
Mamdani has previously condemned pro-Hamas slogans and, in January, publicly described Hamas as a terrorist organisation in response to criticism from various political groups.
The issue has reignited debate over the enforcement of international arrest warrants, diplomatic immunity for visiting foreign leaders and the legal responsibilities of US authorities during high-level international gatherings hosted in New York.
