Trump Calls for Withdrawal from ICC and Condemns Silence over Christian Persecution

President Donald Trump launched a fierce attack on the International Criminal Court during his address to the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York on Tuesday, 22 September 2026, urging member countries to withdraw from the institution.

Describing the court as a “rogue institution” and an “evil group of people”, Trump accused it of acting against American interests. His demand was directed at countries belonging to the ICC, calling on them to end their participation. (reuters.com⁠)

“I call on all nations that are members of the ICC to officially resign from this rogue institution immediately,” he declared.

Trump also insisted that his administration would not allow American service personnel to face what he characterised as politically motivated investigations or “show trials”. His remarks reinforced his administration’s opposition to the court, following an executive order signed on 6 February 2025 authorising sanctions against people involved in certain ICC investigations targeting Americans or nationals of US allies. (whitehouse.gov⁠)

The president extended his criticism to the United Nations’ human rights bodies, accusing them of paying insufficient attention to the persecution of Christians.

“Christians are being persecuted all over the world. It’s not even believable,” he said, arguing that international officials were failing to give this suffering the attention it deserved.

He contrasted what he portrayed as their silence over religious persecution and abuses by repressive regimes with their criticism of American domestic policy. In particular, he attacked objections to his administration’s immigration enforcement and its restrictions on gender-related medical interventions for children.

These accusations formed part of a broader argument about national sovereignty: Trump maintained that international institutions should not dictate how the United States controls its borders or determines its domestic policies.

The speech brought together two central themes of his address—the defence of American sovereignty and an accusation of selective concern within international human rights institutions. His remarks on Christian persecution also raised a question that deserves serious attention: whether international bodies apply the same urgency and consistency to the protection of all communities facing religious repression.