The Trump administration's campaign against the International Criminal Court

Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced in July 2026 a diplomatic campaign to dismantle the International Criminal Court, accusing it of "waging a war against our country" with "the force of so-called international law."^[5][1] Two US-based human rights groups sued over the administration's sanctions on the court, which were tied to its investigations of Israel's war in Gaza,^[6] and Human Rights Watch and three other groups filed another suit in August.^[7] Chad announced that it would withdraw from the court, drawing praise from the US.^[8]

In August the administration sanctioned the court's president, Tomoko Akane of Japan, and a senior trial lawyer, Abdoulaye Seye of Senegal; the court called it a "flagrant attack" on its independence,^[2] and Akane decried the effort to dismantle the court.^[9] In September, sources said sanctions against the entire court had been prepared, which could cut it off from much of the global financial system,^[3] and the Netherlands, the court's host, prepared to help it keep operating.^[10] Trump urged all members to resign "immediately" in his speech to the UN General Assembly,^[4] and Germany's foreign minister visited the court to pledge full support.^[11]