Washington, DC [USA]: US President Donald Trump has signed two executive orders—one imposing sanctions on the International Criminal Court (ICC) and another aimed at addressing what he described as “anti-Christian bias,” CNN reported.
The first order places financial and visa restrictions on individuals and their family members who assist in ICC investigations involving US citizens or American allies, according to a fact sheet obtained by CNN.
This move comes in response to the ICC’s arrest warrants issued last year for top Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. The warrants, condemned by then-President Joe Biden, accused the Israeli leaders of war crimes and crimes against humanity for military actions in Gaza following the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023. The ICC had also sought the arrests of Hamas leaders, including Yahya Sinwar, who was later killed.
Both Republicans and Democrats in Congress have criticized the ICC’s actions, arguing that the warrants equate the leader of a US ally with the head of a terrorist organization. Although neither the US nor Israel are members of the ICC, the warrants could complicate travel for Israeli officials in 124 signatory countries that are obligated to enforce the court’s decisions.
Meanwhile, the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office dismissed the ICC warrants as “absurd and antisemitic,” according to CNN.
Netanyahu, currently visiting Washington, DC, became the first foreign leader to meet Trump at the White House this week. During a joint press conference, Trump announced that the US would “take over” Gaza, hinting at a shift in US foreign policy should he return to office.
This is not the first time Trump has taken action against the ICC. During his first term, he authorized sanctions and visa restrictions on ICC officials when the court investigated alleged war crimes in Afghanistan involving US and Afghan forces as well as the Taliban.
In a separate move, Trump signed a second executive order on Thursday, addressing what he called “anti-Christian bias.”
“Today, I’m signing an executive order to make our attorney general—who’s a great person, she’s going to be a great attorney general, Pam Bondi—the head of a task force brand new to eradicate anti-Christian bias,” Trump announced at an event linked to the National Prayer Breakfast, as reported by CNN.
The executive orders underscore Trump’s continued push to protect US allies from international prosecution and his focus on religious freedom issues in the US.