- NEW YORK, September 22, 2026 —
United States President Donald Trump has called on all countries that are members of the International Criminal Court (ICC) to withdraw from the institution, describing the court as an “out of control institution” and an “evil group of people.”
Trump made the remarks on Tuesday, September 22, while addressing world leaders during the general debate of the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York.
The US president accused the ICC of operating as an anti-American tribunal and criticised its jurisdiction over nationals of countries that are not parties to the Rome Statute, the treaty that established the court.
“[The ICC] is an out of control institution,” Trump said, according to Reuters, while calling on member states to leave the court immediately.
He also described the ICC in highly critical terms, referring to it as an “evil group of people” and arguing that American military personnel should not be subjected to what he characterised as politically motivated or biased proceedings.
Trump’s latest comments form part of a broader confrontation between his administration and the International Criminal Court.
The United States is not a party to the Rome Statute and therefore is not an ICC member. Israel, which has also been the subject of ICC proceedings, is likewise not a member of the court. The ICC, however, asserts jurisdiction in certain circumstances involving crimes committed on the territory of, or by nationals of, states that have accepted its jurisdiction.
The dispute has intensified following the ICC’s issuance of arrest warrants for Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The United States has strongly opposed the court’s actions against Israeli officials.
The Trump administration has also been preparing broader sanctions against the ICC. Reuters reported on September 21 that Washington was considering measures targeting the institution and its personnel as part of an effort to isolate the court and challenge its operations.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has previously argued that the ICC poses a threat to US sovereignty and to the interests of American allies. The administration has also objected to the court’s earlier investigation into alleged crimes involving US forces in Afghanistan.
Trump’s call comes at a time when the ICC is already facing pressure from several directions.
The court currently has 125 member states. In recent months, several countries have announced their intention to leave the institution. Venezuela and Chad were among the latest countries to withdraw, joining Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, according to Associated Press reporting.
Supporters of the ICC maintain that the court plays an important role in pursuing individuals accused of genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and the crime of aggression when national judicial systems are unable or unwilling to address such cases.
The ICC was established under the Rome Statute and became operational in 2002. Unlike the International Court of Justice, which deals primarily with disputes between states, the ICC prosecutes individuals accused of serious international crimes.
The court’s supporters have rejected efforts to weaken or isolate it. In an opinion published earlier this month, the current and former presidents of the ICC’s governing body argued that attempts to persuade member states to withdraw could undermine confidence in the broader international legal order.
Trump’s remarks add to a broader debate over the role of international institutions and the extent to which international courts should exercise jurisdiction over individuals from countries that have not accepted their authority.
For the United States, the issue has increasingly become linked to questions of national sovereignty and the protection of American military and government officials from international prosecution.
For ICC supporters, however, the court represents an international mechanism intended to ensure that individuals accused of the gravest crimes can be held accountable when domestic systems fail to do so.
Trump’s call for ICC member states to withdraw therefore places renewed focus on the future of international criminal justice and the relationship between national sovereignty and international accountability.
The 81st session of the UN General Assembly opened on September 8, 2026, with its general debate scheduled from September 22 to 26 and September 28. The session is being conducted under the theme “Restoring Trust, Managing Transformation: A United Nations That Delivers for All.”
Trump’s call is expected to fuel further international discussion over the legitimacy, jurisdiction and future of the International Criminal Court as governments weigh their positions on the institution.