WASHINGTON — Sen. John Fetterman sharply criticized Mayor Zohran Mamdani over his suggestion that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu could be arrested if he visits New York City, dismissing the idea as political theater and calling Mamdani a “clown.”
Mamdani, who has voiced deep skepticism about the prison system, said his administration was reviewing whether it would be legally possible to detain Netanyahu if the Israeli leader traveled to the city for the United Nations General Assembly or another major event.
“Well, it’s such a tough guy to say that kind of thing. He has no way to do that,” Fetterman (D-Pa.) said during an appearance on Fox News’ “Sunday Morning Futures.”
The mayor pointed to the International Criminal Court’s 2024 arrest warrant for Netanyahu tied to the war in Gaza as the basis for raising the possibility.
Fetterman rejected that argument outright, noting that the United States is not a member of the ICC. “Obviously, America’s not even part of that corrupt court, and so he’s just a clown to even say that. So he won’t try that,” he said. “And now, just sit down and focus on the problems that they have in New York. That’s really not your purview.”
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The Post reached out to City Hall seeking comment.
Mamdani had previously said during his campaign that he would seek to arrest Netanyahu if the Israeli prime minister entered New York City. He reaffirmed that position in a recent interview with the New York Times podcast “The Interview.”
“I believe that Prime Minister Netanyahu belongs in The Hague,” Mamdani told host Lulu Garcia-Navarro, referring to the Netherlands-based home of the International Criminal Court.
“He’s a war criminal who has been charged by the International Criminal Court,” Hizzoner went on. “And what you will find is that is an opinion that is held by many, purely because of what his actions have wrought over these last many years.”
But when pressed, the mayor acknowledged that he may not have the legal authority to detain a world leader and committed to following the city’s laws.
“We won’t be writing our own laws to that end,” he said.
UNGA is set to convene in September. This will be the first session of UNGA while Mamdani is sitting in Gracie Mansion.
