Netanyahu will not be arrested while in the United States, says Trump

WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would not be arrested while visiting the United States, issuing a forceful public defense of the Israeli leader amid continuing controversy over international legal action against him.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump wrote that Netanyahu “will not be arrested, in any way, shape, or form, while in the United States of America.”

Trump said Netanyahu was fighting against the Islamic Republic of Iran and accused the Iranian government of killing protesters and American military personnel over several decades. He also claimed Iran had recently killed 52,000 protesters. The post did not provide evidence supporting that figure.

The president said those responsible for leading Iran into what he described as an unprecedented “spiral of death and destruction” should be arrested instead. He argued that the situation should have been addressed by earlier U.S. administrations.

Trump’s statement did not identify a specific arrest effort, explain which authorities might seek Netanyahu’s detention or provide details about any planned visit by the Israeli prime minister.

Netanyahu has faced international criticism and legal scrutiny over Israel’s military operations, while Israel and its allies have rejected attempts to prosecute him as politically motivated and legally unfounded.

The post signals that the Trump administration would strongly oppose any attempt to detain Netanyahu on American soil and underscores the president’s continued support for Israel during its confrontation with Iran.