U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the leading Republican contender for the 2028 U.S. presidential election, strongly defended American sovereignty by rejecting the International Criminal Court‘s authority over U.S. citizens and calling the tribunal a “stupid organization” made up of “lunatics and crazies.”
Speaking to reporters in Manila, Rubio said the ICC had no authority over the citizens or officials of countries that had not accepted the court’s jurisdiction.
“It’s just not going to happen,” Rubio said, ruling out any U.S. cooperation with efforts to prosecute American service members, government officials or future presidents.
He added that while countries are free to become members of the ICC, they cannot compel nonmember states to recognize its authority.
“If people want to sign and be a part of that stupid organization, they can,” he said.
The United States has never joined the ICC or ratified the Rome Statute, the treaty that created the court. Although Washington signed the treaty in 2000, it informed the United Nations two years later that it did not intend to become a state party.
Rubio warned that the ICC would face consequences for continuing to disregard U.S. objections, reinforcing the State Department’s broader campaign against what Washington considers a threat to American sovereignty.
The U.S. has consistently rejected the ICC’s position that it can prosecute nationals of nonmember countries for alleged crimes committed on the territory of a member state, arguing that Americans cannot be subjected to the jurisdiction of a court the country never joined.
Rubio made the remarks in the Philippines, where the ICC has become a major political issue because of its case against former President Rody Duterte. He did not mention Duterte or comment directly on the Philippine proceedings.
ICC judges confirmed three counts of crimes against humanity against Duterte in April and committed him to trial. The proceedings are set to begin on Nov. 30, 2026.
The Philippines withdrew from the Rome Statute in 2019, although the ICC maintains it still has jurisdiction over alleged crimes committed while the country remained a member.
