Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman pushed back sharply against New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani after the mayor suggested local authorities could arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during his expected visit to the U.N. General Assembly in September.
Mamdani repeatedly stated that Netanyahu “belongs in The Hague” following arrest warrant applications by the International Criminal Court over alleged war crimes. In an interview with broadcaster Greta Van Susteren, Fetterman dismissed Mamdani’s statements as political posturing, noting that a city mayor lacks the legal authority to execute international arrest warrants.
“He’s a total clown,” Fetterman said. “He has the authority to arrest Netanyahu any more than I would have the authority to arrest him if he visited Washington, D.C.”
Fetterman urged the New York mayor to focus on local governance rather than foreign policy matters outside his jurisdiction. “You’re a mayor, dude. Pick up trash, fix some potholes, and really fix the homeless problem in your city. You’re way out of your league,” Fetterman said, describing the threats as “irresponsible” and designed “just for clicks.”
The United States is not a state party to the Rome Statute, the treaty that established the International Criminal Court, and U.S. law limits federal and local cooperation with ICC orders. Former President Donald Trump also addressed the issue on Truth Social, writing that Netanyahu “will not be arrested in any way, shape, or form while in the United States of America.”
Fetterman stressed that local police units operate on legally binding warrants, not mayoral directives. “The mayor does not direct arrests. The police enforce warrants. There is not a warrant. America is not part of the ICC,” Fetterman said, adding that Mamdani has “no standing” to make such claims.
Turning to broader political dynamics inside Washington, Fetterman expressed concern over growing opposition to Israel within the Democratic Party. He pointed to recent congressional maneuvers aimed at reducing or eliminating military assistance to Israel, noting that opposition votes inside Democratic caucuses have steadily climbed in both the House and Senate.
Fetterman also addressed criticisms surrounding the ongoing conflict and the graphic recordings filmed by Hamas fighters during the October 7 attacks. When asked why some critics downplay or ignore the violence, Fetterman stated that many refuse to engage with the actual footage.
“They won’t watch it,” Fetterman said. “If they watched that, they would have to confront what those animals really are and what they’ve done.”
Netanyahu is slated to arrive in New York this September to address world leaders at the United Nations headquarters, where federal diplomat protocols and host-country agreements govern foreign delegations.
READ: Indiana Woman Sentenced For Threatening To Kill South Carolina Rep. Nancy Mace
Please make a small donation to the Tampa Free Press to help sustain independent journalism. Your contribution enables us to continue delivering high-quality, local, and national news coverage.
Sign up: Subscribe to our free newsletter for a curated selection of top stories delivered straight to your inbox.
