US President Donald Trump on Tuesday called on every country that belongs to the International Criminal Court to resign from the body immediately, denouncing it as a “rogue institution.”
Addressing the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York, Trump said the United States would not allow its military service members to face what he described as show trials by an “anti-American tribunal.”
“I call on all nations that are members of the ICC to officially resign from this rogue institution immediately,” he declared.
Trump described the court as an “out-of-control institution” and “an evil group of people.” He added that Washington was “equally opposed to the out-of-control institution known as the International Criminal Court.”
The United States has never ratified the Rome Statute that established the Hague-based court and is not a member. Israel, Russia and China are also non-members.
Trump’s remarks come amid a broader US campaign against the ICC. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has previously vowed to dismantle the court “brick by brick,” citing its arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and past investigations involving American personnel.
Washington has imposed sanctions on several ICC officials in response to the court’s actions.
