WASHINGTON — The United States is warning it will impose new sanctions on the International Criminal Court unless the court agrees to major structural changes, including an amendment to its founding treaty that would block investigations of President Donald Trump and other U.S. leaders after Trump leaves office in 2029, according to reporting from Reuters.
A Trump administration official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said the United States has relayed its demands to ICC member states and to the court itself. The list includes three main points:
- Amending the Rome Statute to strip or sharply limit the court’s authority over former U.S. officials.
- Ending the court’s ongoing investigations into Israeli officials for actions in the Gaza war.
- Formally closing the ICC’s long-running probe into alleged misconduct by U.S. troops in Afghanistan.
If those changes aren’t made, Washington has signaled it is prepared to issue additional sanctions targeting ICC personnel or the institution itself.
The United States is not a party to the ICC or the Rome Statute, which created the court and defines its jurisdiction over genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and aggression. While the ICC cannot assert jurisdiction over Americans on U.S. soil, it can investigate alleged crimes involving U.S. personnel abroad when a member state grants jurisdiction or a case is formally referred.
In February 2025, the administration issued Executive Order 14203. The order imposed sanctions on ICC officials and threatened secondary sanctions on anyone assisting ICC investigations involving U.S. or allied nationals. Earlier U.S. sanctions focused on ICC judges and prosecutors after the court moved to pursue cases involving Israeli leaders and to revisit U.S. actions in Afghanistan.
There is no public ICC investigation or arrest warrant targeting Trump or senior U.S. officials. Still, administration officials believe the risk is real, citing ongoing ICC scrutiny of conflicts involving the United States, especially allegations related to U.S. strikes on suspected Venezuelan narcotics-trafficking vessels.
Some senior Trump officials are convinced that, once Trump leaves office, the court may seek to prosecute top U.S. leaders. “There is growing concern … that in 2029 the ICC will turn its attention to the president, to the vice president, to the secretary of war and others, and pursue prosecutions against them,” one told Reuters. “That is unacceptable, and we will not allow it to happen.”
The standoff now tests how far Washington is willing to go — and how the court and its 125 member states respond to the pressure.
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IF the ‘court’ was apolitical like they claim to be they might have a ‘bit’ of credibility but even Mr. Magoo can see that they ain’t. Prove me wrong.
If this court hasn’t convicted Putin that tells you exactly where they’re coming from.