At the UN, Trump calls on states to leave the ICC “immediately”

Donald Trump called on Tuesday, September 22, before the United Nations General Assembly, all states party to the Rome Statute to leave the International Criminal Court (ICC) immediately. The American president brought Washington’s offensive against the court, which is responsible for prosecuting the most serious international crimes, to the UN.

The American leader portrayed the ICC as an institution hostile to U.S. interests and asserted that Washington would not accept American military personnel being subjected to what he deems illegitimate proceedings. The United States is not a party to the Rome Statute and has contested several investigations and decisions of the court for years.

Established by the Rome Statute, adopted in 1998 and entering into force in 2002, the ICC is competent to prosecute genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and the crime of aggression when the conditions set forth by the treaty are met.

However, a withdrawal would not be immediate. Article 127 of the Rome Statute stipulates that a state party must notify the UN Secretary-General of its decision, and this takes effect one year after receipt, unless a later date is specified. Withdrawal does not erase obligations incurred during the membership period nor cooperation related to certain ongoing proceedings.

Trump’s call comes as his administration has already ramped up measures against the court and some of its officials. Washington has sanctioned several judges and prosecutors and has prepared a framework targeting the institution itself, which could complicate its financial transactions and operations. Bénin Web TV detailed this new phase of American pressure on the ICC on September 21.

The dispute particularly concerns proceedings involving Israeli officials as well as the investigation previously opened regarding Afghanistan. Washington rejects the court’s jurisdiction over its nationals and believes that some of its actions infringe upon American sovereignty.

The court relies on the cooperation of its member states for arrests, evidence collection, and the execution of several judicial decisions. A coordinated departure of multiple countries would therefore directly reduce the network of cooperation on which it depends, even if each withdrawal would still be subject to the rules of the Rome Statute.

Hungary has provided a recent precedent: it submitted its notification of withdrawal to the UN Secretary-General on June 2, 2025, and this withdrawal took effect on June 2, 2026, in accordance with the one-year notice period stipulated by the Rome Statute.