Trump Admin Imposes New Sanctions on ICC Judges

The International Criminal Court targeted ‘nationals of the United States or Israel, without the consent of either nation,’ Secretary of State Marco Rubio said.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio takes part in a meeting between President Donald Trump and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte in the Oval Office on July 14, 2025. Nathan Howard/File Photo/Reuters

The Trump administration announced on Aug. 20 it is imposing sanctions on four officials with the International Criminal Court (ICC), citing their alleged actions against Israeli and American nationals.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the officials have sought to “investigate, arrest, detain, or prosecute nationals of the United States or Israel, without the consent of either nation.”

The U.S. Treasury and State Department sanctioned Nicolas Yann Guillou of France, Nazhat Shameem Khan of Fiji, Mame Mandiaye Niang of Senegal, and Kimberly Prost of Canada.

Rubio said in a statement: “The United States has been clear and steadfast in our opposition to the ICC’s politicization, abuse of power, disregard for our national sovereignty, and illegitimate judicial overreach.”

“The Court is a national security threat that has been an instrument for lawfare against the United States and our close ally Israel.

“I urge countries that still support the ICC, many of whose freedom was purchased at the price of great American sacrifices, to resist the claims of this bankrupt institution.”

U.N. spokesman Stéphane Dujarric told media outlets that the ICC has the full support of the world body to carry out its work and that the U.N. is “very concerned” about the United States continuing to target the international court, he said.

“We firmly believe that the ICC is a key pillar of international criminal justice, and we respect their work,” he said.

ICC judges issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, former Israeli defense chief Yoav Gallant, and Hamas terrorist group leader Mohammed Diab Ibrahim Al-Masri last November for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity during the Gaza conflict.

Netanyahu has denied the claims and warned last year that American officials could be next.

Earlier this year, Trump wrote that he imposed sanctions on the ICC itself because it has “engaged in illegitimate and baseless actions targeting America and our close ally Israel,” adding that the court “asserted jurisdiction over and opened preliminary investigations concerning personnel of the United States and certain of its allies, including Israel, and has further abused its power by issuing baseless arrest warrants” against Netanyahu and Gallant.

In March 2020, ICC prosecutors opened an investigation in Afghanistan that included a probe of alleged crimes by U.S. troops. Since 2021, however, it has deprioritized the role of the United States and focused on alleged crimes committed by the Afghan government and Taliban forces.

The ICC, which was established in 2002, has international jurisdiction to prosecute genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes in its 125 member states or if a situation is referred by the U.N. Security Council.

Some countries do not recognize its authority, including Israel, the United States, China, Russia, and others.

The Trump administration has imposed penalties on former ICC chief prosecutor Karim Khan, who stepped down in May amid allegations of sexual misconduct. Several other tribunal judges have also been sanctioned this year.

During Trump’s first term, the U.S. government imposed sanctions on the ICC. The Biden administration rescinded the sanctions in early 2021.

The Epoch Times contacted the ICC for comment, but did not hear back by publication time.

Reuters and The Associated Press contributed to this report.