He imposes them due to the court’s issuance of arrest warrants for Israel’s prime minister and former defense minister.
President Donald Trump imposed sanctions on the International Criminal Court for “illegitimate and baseless actions targeting America and our close ally Israel.“ He made the move on the authority of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, the National Emergencies Act, and the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952.
The president stated, “The ICC has, without a legitimate basis, asserted jurisdiction over and opened preliminary investigations concerning personnel of the United States and certain of its allies, including Israel, and has further abused its power by issuing baseless arrest warrants targeting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Former Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant.“
President Trump highlighted that neither the U.S. nor Israel is a party to the Rome Statute and are not members of the ICC, and that the ICC has no jurisdiction over either allied nation.
He stated, “Any effort by the ICC to investigate, arrest, detain, or prosecute protected persons… constitutes an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States, and I hereby declare a national emergency to address that threat.“
The president concluded, “The United States will impose tangible and significant consequences on those responsible for the ICC’s transgressions, some of which may include the blocking of property and assets, as well as the suspension of entry into the United States of ICC officials, employees, and agents, as well as their immediate family members, as their entry into our Nation would be detrimental to the interests of the United States.”
As the Lord Leads, Pray with Us…
- For wisdom for the president as he assesses national security and seeks to strengthen alliances.
- For the secretary of state and U.S. diplomats as they meet with foreign dignitaries and heads of state.
Sources: The White House, Daily Wire, Townhall
