US President Donald Trump used his address to the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday to demand that countries belonging to the International Criminal Court withdraw from the tribunal, while making clear that Washington would reject any attempt to subject American personnel to its jurisdiction.
Speaking at the 81st session of the General Assembly in New York, Trump said the United States opposed the ICC and argued that the court had no authority over Americans. He said his administration would not permit US military personnel or others to face proceedings that he characterized as politically motivated.
The United States is not a party to the Rome Statute, the treaty that established the ICC, and has never ratified it. Israel, Russia and China are also outside the court’s membership.
Trump’s remarks come amid longstanding tensions between Washington and the ICC. The United States has taken measures against ICC officials in connection with the court’s actions involving Israel, including its issuance of an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, a close US ally.
During his speech, Trump described the court as an “out of control institution” and “an evil group of people.” He also referred to it as an anti-American tribunal and rejected its authority over the United States.
Trump then directly appealed to countries that remain members of the court.
“I call on all nations that are members of the ICC to officially resign from this rogue institution immediately,” he said.
The comments formed part of a broader address in which Trump challenged the role of international institutions and emphasized US sovereignty. His speech also covered the conflict with Iran and his administration’s foreign-policy priorities.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has previously expressed opposition to the ICC, saying Washington intended to dismantle the institution “brick by brick.”
Trump’s latest call urges countries that participate in the ICC to formally withdraw from the court.
