Trump explained the sanctions against the ICC as protection of the Israeli Prime Minister

U.S. President Donald Trump stated that Washington's campaign against the International Criminal Court is primarily aimed at protecting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other allies, rather than the American leader himself.

This is reported by Haaretz.

Trump confirmed that the U.S. is trying to weaken the court's influence and prevent the execution of its decisions regarding the Israeli leadership.

In February 2025, the U.S. president signed an executive order imposing sanctions against the ICC. The document calls the court's actions against the United States and Israel illegal and baseless.

The order allows the blocking of assets of ICC staff involved in investigations, restricting financial operations with them, and barring them from entering the United States. Washington is also urging its allies to oppose the prosecution of American and Israeli officials.

The International Criminal Court, on November 21, 2024, issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and the then–Minister of Defense of Israel, Yoav Gallant.

The court said there were reasonable grounds to suspect them of the war crime of using starvation as a method of warfare, as well as crimes against humanity, including murder, persecution, and other inhumane acts. The issuance of warrants does not mean the suspects have been found guilty.

Israel rejects the accusations and does not recognize the ICC's jurisdiction. The U.S. is also not a party to the Rome Statute, under which the court operates. The ICC, however, believes it can consider alleged crimes committed in the territory of the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, since Palestine has recognized its jurisdiction.

Earlier, Trump stated that Netanyahu would not be arrested during a visit to the United States, despite the active warrant from the International Criminal Court.