Trump Calls on ICC Member States to Leave Court

US President Donald Trump has called on all countries that are members of the International Criminal Court (ICC) to withdraw from the institution, sharply criticizing the tribunal during his address to the 81st United Nations General Assembly.

Speaking in New York on September 22, Trump described the ICC as an “out-of-control institution” and said the United States would not accept investigations or proceedings against its military personnel or other Americans by a court he said has no jurisdiction over the United States.

“The United States is equally opposed to the out-of-control institution known as the International Criminal Court,” Trump said, before calling on ICC member states to leave the court.

“I call on all nations that are members of the ICC to officially resign from this rogue institution immediately,” he said.

The United States is not a party to the Rome Statute, the treaty that established the ICC, and has not ratified it. The court prosecutes individuals accused of genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and the crime of aggression under conditions set out in the Rome Statute.

Trump’s comments come amid escalating tensions between Washington and the ICC. His administration has imposed sanctions on ICC officials and has been seeking to isolate the court internationally. Reuters reported that the administration was also preparing broader sanctions targeting the institution.

The dispute has been particularly linked to ICC proceedings involving Israeli officials, including an arrest warrant issued for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, as well as the court’s earlier investigation into alleged crimes involving US personnel in Afghanistan.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has previously criticized the ICC and pledged measures aimed at isolating the institution, describing it as a threat to US sovereignty. Washington maintains that the court should not exercise jurisdiction over US nationals without US consent.

The ICC, established in 2002, operates independently of the United Nations and is based in The Hague. Its mandate is to prosecute individuals for some of the most serious international crimes when the court has jurisdiction and national authorities are unable or unwilling to genuinely carry out proceedings.

Trump’s remarks have added to a wider debate over the role and authority of international institutions, including questions surrounding national sovereignty, international accountability and the jurisdiction of international courts.

The call also comes as world leaders gather in New York for the UN General Assembly, where the role of international institutions and reforms to the global system have emerged as major issues in discussions on conflicts, human rights and international law.