President Donald Trump declared Monday that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will not face arrest while visiting the United States, responding directly to recent comments from New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who said his administration is examining whether it would have the legal authority to detain the Israeli leader if he comes to the city.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump dismissed the possibility outright, making clear that he does not believe Netanyahu will be arrested under any circumstances while on American soil.
“Benjamin Netanyahu will not be arrested, in any way, shape, or form, while in the United States of America,” Trump wrote.
The president also defended the Israeli prime minister, pointing to Israel’s conflict with Iran.
“He is fighting against the Islamic Republic of Iran, which recently killed 52,000 innocent protestors, and has spent the last 47 years killing American Soldiers, and others,” Trump wrote.
Trump then shifted his focus toward Iran’s leadership, arguing that those responsible for the country’s actions should instead face accountability.
“The only ones that should be arrested are the people that led Iran into this unprecedented SPIRAL OF DEATH AND DESTRUCTION, something that should have been dealt with years ago, by previous Presidents!” he added.
Trump’s comments came after Mamdani discussed the issue during an appearance on The New York Times’ “The Interview” podcast over the weekend. During the interview, the New York City mayor said his legal team is continuing to examine whether there is any legal basis for arresting Netanyahu should the Israeli leader travel to New York City.
Mamdani expressed his personal view of Netanyahu while referencing charges brought by the International Criminal Court.
“I believe that Prime Minister Netanyahu belongs in The Hague. He’s a war criminal who has been charged by the International Criminal Court,” Mamdani said.
He added that he believes many people share that perspective.
“And what you will find is that is an opinion that is held by many purely because of what his actions have wrought over these last many years,” Mamdani told the Times.
During the interview, Mamdani was asked whether he believes he actually has the legal authority to arrest a visiting foreign leader.
Rather than offering a definitive answer, the mayor said the matter remains under review by his administration’s legal department.
“That’s an active conversation with our legal department,” Mamdani replied.
He also said his administration has no interest in acting outside the law.
“However, what we’ve seen at the national level is a desire sometimes to write your own laws, to go outside of the bounds of legality. That’s not something we have an interest in,” he said.
Trump’s statement represents a direct rejection of the possibility raised by Mamdani, with the president insisting that Netanyahu will not be arrested while in the United States.
The exchange highlights the sharp disagreement between the two leaders over the Israeli prime minister and the legal questions surrounding any potential visit to New York City. While Mamdani said his legal department continues evaluating the issue, Trump maintained that Netanyahu would not face arrest “in any way, shape, or form” during any visit to the United States.
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