US President President Donald J. Trump urged countries that are members of the International Criminal Court (ICC) to resign immediately from the tribunal, accusing it of overstepping its mandate and pursuing people outside its jurisdiction.
Speaking at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, Trump urged ICC member states to withdraw from the court, which he described as an “evil group of people” that has evolved into an institution that threatens national sovereignty.
“I call on all nations that are members of the ICC to officially resign from the ICC immediately,” Trump said.
“We will never allow US service members or anyone else to be investigated or given show trials by an anti-American tribunal with no jurisdiction over us.”
Trump has repeatedly criticized the ICC’s authority over countries that are not parties to the Rome Statute, the treaty that established the court. The United States is not a member of the ICC and has maintained that the tribunal cannot exercise jurisdiction over non-member states without their consent.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio also criticized the court, describing the ICC as an institution that has “abused its authority” and acted beyond its mandate.
The remarks came amid renewed tensions between Washington and the ICC, which investigates individuals accused of genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity, and crimes of aggression. The tribunal has faced criticism from several governments over concerns about its jurisdiction, while supporters argue it provides a legal mechanism for pursuing accountability for serious international crimes.
The ICC’s dispute with the Philippines remains one of the court’s high-profile cases. Former President Rody Duterte is facing crimes against humanity charges over alleged killings linked to his administration’s anti-drug campaign. Duterte remains detained in The Hague, with his trial scheduled to begin on November 30.
The Philippines withdrew from the ICC in 2019, but the tribunal has maintained that it retains jurisdiction over alleged crimes committed while the country was still a member of the Rome Statute, covering the period up to March 16, 2019.
