The Trump administration frames the move as a response to what it calls politicized legal actions by the International Criminal Court.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the Trump administration is imposing sanctions on two judges of the International Criminal Court, citing concerns over actions related to Israel that the U.S. government describes as politicized and illegitimate.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Thursday that the Trump administration is sanctioning two judges of the International Criminal Court (ICC) who he said were directly involved in legal actions against Israel that the administration views as illegitimate.
In a public statement, Rubio said the United States would respond with “significant and tangible consequences” to what he described as legal warfare, abuse of power, and disregard for the sovereignty of both the United States and Israel by the ICC.
The ICC, based in The Hague, investigates and prosecutes individuals for genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity. The court has previously asserted jurisdiction in cases involving Israel, a move the U.S. and Israel have both rejected. Neither country is a party to the ICC.
The Trump administration has long opposed ICC actions involving U.S. allies and has argued that the court lacks jurisdiction over non-member states. Previous administrations have also expressed concerns about ICC authority, though approaches have varied.
The ICC has not yet publicly responded to the latest sanctions announcement. International legal experts note that sanctions against ICC officials are rare and could further strain relations between Washington and international judicial institutions.
Rubio said the administration will continue to take action to counter what it sees as politically motivated legal efforts, emphasizing that U.S. policy remains focused on defending national sovereignty and allied partners.
