The Trump administration has delivered an ultimatum to the International Criminal Court (ICC): amend the Rome Statute to grant lifelong immunity to President Donald Trump and senior U.S. officials, or face devastating new sanctions that could paralyze the court’s operations.
According to senior U.S. officials speaking on background, the White House is demanding three specific concessions:
- A permanent exemption for sitting and former U.S. presidents, vice presidents, and cabinet-level officials from ICC jurisdiction, regardless of alleged crimes.
- Immediate termination of the court’s investigation into Israeli leaders over actions in Gaza.
- Permanent closure of the long-dormant probe into alleged U.S. war crimes in Afghanistan.
Failure to comply, officials warned, would trigger sanctions not only on additional ICC judges and prosecutors but potentially on the institution itself—measures that could freeze bank accounts, block payroll, and cut off critical software licenses, effectively shutting the court down.
The demands were communicated directly to ICC leadership and to key member states, many of them close U.S. allies. While the United States has never ratified the Rome Statute and does not recognize ICC jurisdiction over its nationals, the administration argues the court’s “illegitimate overreach” justifies aggressive countermeasures.
The ICC issued a brief statement noting that amendments to the Rome Statute are decided exclusively by the Assembly of States Parties and declined to comment on alleged U.S. threats. Legal scholars called the move unprecedented, warning that carving out immunity for one country’s leaders would destroy the court’s credibility and independence.
The ultimatum builds on actions taken earlier this year, when the Trump administration reimposed and expanded sanctions on ICC personnel after the court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant over the Gaza conflict.
Human rights organizations swiftly condemned the threats. “This is blackmail, plain and simple,” said a spokesperson for Amnesty International. “The United States is demanding a license to commit crimes with impunity while bullying an independent court into silence.”
Reactions on social media were fierce, with many users accusing Washington of rank hypocrisy for championing “rule of law” at home while seeking to dismantle it abroad.
European allies have so far responded cautiously. Germany urged “dialogue over confrontation,” while France reaffirmed its support for the ICC’s independence. Israel, meanwhile, welcomed the U.S. pressure, with officials praising the administration for “standing up to biased international bodies.”
As of publication, the ICC has set no public deadline for a response, and the White House has not specified when new sanctions would be imposed. The standoff has thrust the 23-year-old court into its most existential crisis yet, raising stark questions about whether any international institution can hold the world’s sole superpower to account.