WASHINGTON — The Trump administration has begun a coordinated push to neutralize what it views as a threat posed by the International Criminal Court to American sovereignty, according to a State Department official who spoke Monday.
The United States has long opposed the ICC’s authority to investigate or prosecute American citizens, especially military members. Both President Donald Trump and former President George W. Bush have historically argued that the court should have no jurisdiction over Americans. A Reuters investigation earlier this year revealed that the Trump administration had supported sanctions against ICC officials, partly as a way to shield Trump and members of his administration from potential accountability for U.S. military operations abroad.
The State Department official, who requested anonymity, said the administration is weighing a broad set of measures against the court. Those options include travel restrictions, visa revocations, expanded sanctions targeting the ICC and organizations connected to it, and diplomatic efforts to convince other countries to leave the court entirely.
The ICC was created in 2002 through an international agreement to prosecute individuals accused of war crimes, genocide, and crimes against humanity. The court only steps in when a member nation is either unable or unwilling to pursue prosecution on its own. The United States has never joined the court as a member.
Trump’s opposition to the ICC is not new — it dates back to his first term in office. Tensions flared again after his re-election in November 2024, when the ICC issued an indictment against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, a close Trump ally. The administration subsequently moved to impose sanctions on ICC judges.
Last month, three ICC judges filed a lawsuit against Trump and his administration, challenging those sanctions as unlawful.
The State Department official confirmed Monday that Secretary of State Marco Rubio and other senior U.S. officials are actively pressuring foreign governments as part of a broader strategy “to diplomatically isolate the International Criminal Court and ensure it cannot target Americans.”
In March 2020, ICC prosecutors launched an investigation into events in Afghanistan that included scrutiny of possible crimes committed by U.S. military personnel. However, since 2021, the court has shifted its focus away from American actions and toward alleged crimes by the Afghan government and Taliban forces.
Countries that rely on U.S. law enforcement partnerships, host American military forces, or fall under the U.S. security umbrella are being asked to formally reject the ICC’s claimed authority to prosecute American officials and service members, the official said.
Nations that continue to support the ICC while depending on U.S. assistance could face increased scrutiny, the official warned.
“We will watch with interest which nations join ranks with us against this threat to Americans who are willing to risk their lives to protect others,” the official said.
