U.S. President Donald Trump praised Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as a “war hero,” adding “I guess I am too,” in a radio interview, remarks that immediately drew scrutiny because Netanyahu is the subject of an International Criminal Court arrest warrant in connection with the Gaza war. Trump made the comments while discussing his Middle East policy and claiming he has not received adequate credit for recent U.S. air operations, a reference he linked to his decision to order strikes on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure earlier this summer.
Trump’s characterization of Netanyahu came despite the ICC’s action against the Israeli leader. Judges at The Hague have confirmed that arrest warrants for Netanyahu and former defense minister Yoav Gallant remain in force while the court continues to examine challenges to its jurisdiction over alleged crimes during the Gaza campaign; Israel’s bid to have the warrants revoked was rejected on July 16, 2025. The warrants themselves were issued after the prosecutor alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in the conflict. Under the Rome Statute, ICC member states are obliged to act on such warrants if the subjects enter their territory.
News outlets in Israel and abroad quickly amplified Trump’s comments, noting he delivered the “war hero” line in a conversation with conservative host Mark Levin and tied his self‑description to having “sent those planes.” The exchange underscored how closely the White House has aligned itself with Israel’s wartime leadership even as international legal scrutiny intensifies.
Trump did not address the legal implications of the ICC warrants in his remarks, and the Prime Minister’s Office did not immediately issue a formal statement in response; however, the laudatory framing fits a broader pattern of public solidarity between the two leaders during the Gaza campaign. Separate coverage from Turkish and international outlets likewise highlighted the juxtaposition between the praise and the standing arrest warrant.
The comments land amid continuing diplomatic and legal turbulence surrounding the war, with the ICC process advancing in parallel to on‑again, off‑again negotiations over hostages and ceasefire arrangements. For now, Trump’s “war hero” assessment signals unwavering political support for Netanyahu from Washington, even as the Israeli leader’s international travel remains constrained by the Hague process and the broader debate over accountability in the Gaza conflict persists.
