Trump says US campaign against ICC is aimed at protecting Netanyahu, others

Trump says the US campaign against the ICC aims to protect Netanyahu and others, not himself. Rubio says five countries plan to quit the court. Trump denies being a target, says Rubio is defending Netanyahu. Rubio warns US service members could face prosecution. The ICC can prosecute non-member nationals for crimes in member states. Trump's opposition dates to his first term, with a plan to penalize ICC officials developed after the ICC issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu.

President Donald Trump said on Friday that the US campaign to dismantle the International Criminal Court is aimed at protecting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and others from prosecution, not himself. Trump's comments came after Secretary of State Marco Rubio told a cabinet meeting at Camp David that five countries had announced plans to quit the court since the US launched a campaign earlier this month against what it says is a threat to US sovereignty. "There's no information that they're after me," Trump said. "It could happen, but just so you know ... he (Rubio) is not trying to defend me. He's trying to defend Bibi and various other people," Trump said, using Netanyahu's nickname. Rubio responded that the people in biggest danger were US service members, who could face prosecution years later over their actions in war. The ICC, established in 2002, prosecutes war crimes, genocide, and crimes against humanity. The US has never been a member, but the ICC can prosecute nationals of non-member states for crimes committed on the territory of member states. Trump's opposition to the court goes back to his first term, and a plan to penalize ICC officials was developed in November 2024 after the ICC issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu for alleged war crimes in the Gaza conflict. The administration plans to lobby other countries to leave the court and use travel bans and sanctions against the ICC.