The International Criminal Court has become a force for evil, and, happily, the United States is not a member and has conceded no jurisdiction to that body. The ICC’s most notorious outrage is its issuance of absurd “arrest warrants” for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Yoav Gallant, Israel’s former Minister of Defense. These “arrest warrants” have made it impossible for Netanyahu to travel to various countries, where he could be placed under arrest.
The Trump administration has never been on board with any of this nonsense, and on Thursday Secretary of State Marco Rubio issued an order imposing sanctions on the ICC judges responsible for the “warrants.” This implements an Executive Order by President Trump.
Today, I am designating Solomy Balungi Bossa of Uganda, Luz del Carmen Ibáñez Carranza of Peru, Reine Adelaide Sophie Alapini Gansou of Benin, and Beti Hohler of Slovenia pursuant to President Trump’s Executive Order 14203, “Imposing Sanctions on the International Criminal Court.” These individuals directly engaged in efforts by the International Criminal Court (ICC) to investigate, arrest, detain, or prosecute nationals of the United States or Israel, without consent from the United States or Israel. Neither the United States nor Israel is party to the Rome Statute.
As ICC judges, these four individuals have actively engaged in the ICC’s illegitimate and baseless actions targeting America or our close ally, Israel. The ICC is politicized and falsely claims unfettered discretion to investigate, charge, and prosecute nationals of the United States and our allies. This dangerous assertion and abuse of power infringes upon the sovereignty and national security of the United States and our allies, including Israel.
The United States will take whatever actions we deem necessary to protect our sovereignty, that of Israel, and any other U.S. ally from illegitimate actions by the ICC.
I call on the countries that still support the ICC, many of whose freedom was purchased at the price of great American sacrifices to fight this disgraceful attack on our nation and Israel.
Emphasis added. It is to the everlasting credit of the Trump administration that its officials refuse to cede either sovereignty or credibility to corrupt international institutions like the ICC and the United Nations. These organizations are on the wrong side of history, and the sooner they are dismantled the better.
The ICC issued a lame statement “deploring” the imposition of sanctions by the U.S.
I would only add that Marco Rubio has performed brilliantly as Secretary of State. I have long been a fan of his and was, at one point, something of a friend. He would make a great president, as, I think, would J D Vance. And Ron DeSantis, who has a better track record at actually running things than pretty much anyone in the country. Truly, if you are a Republican, an embarrassment of riches.
