US President Donald Trump has called on all countries that are members of the International Criminal Court (ICC) to withdraw from the tribunal, renewing his administration’s criticism of the court.
Trump made the call on Tuesday, September 22, 2026, during his address to the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York.
“The United States is equally opposed to the out-of-control institution known as the International Criminal Court,” Trump said.
“I call on all nations that are members of the ICC to officially resign from this rogue institution immediately,” he added.
The ICC, based in The Hague, prosecutes individuals accused of genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and the crime of aggression under the Rome Statute.
The United States is not a party to the Rome Statute and is therefore not an ICC member. Israel, Russia and China are also not parties to the treaty.
Trump’s latest remarks come amid growing tensions between Washington and the court. His administration has previously imposed sanctions on ICC officials, while Secretary of State Marco Rubio has criticised the institution and called for international pressure against it.
During his UN address, Trump said the United States would not accept the ICC exercising jurisdiction over American personnel. He said Washington would “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.”
While the US is not a party to the Rome Statute, ICC jurisdiction can in certain circumstances extend to alleged crimes committed on the territory of a state party, even when the accused is a national of a non-member country. The court can also exercise jurisdiction following a referral by the UN Security Council or when a non-member state accepts its jurisdiction.
Trump’s comments further underscore the administration’s opposition to the ICC as Washington seeks to challenge the court’s investigations and proceedings involving US personnel and officials of allied countries.
