Sometimes a television interview comes along that makes you stop, rewind, and ask, “Wait…did he really just say that?” That’s exactly what happened during a Fox News discussion this week when former presidential speechwriter Marc Thiessen argued that if New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani actually attempted to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, President Trump could have Mamdani arrested instead. It sounds unbelievable at first, but Thiessen backed up his argument by citing specific federal laws that he believes would make such an arrest illegal. Watch the interview below, then let’s unpack exactly what was said—and why it’s creating such a firestorm.
New Yorkers Didn’t Elect a Foreign Policy Expert
Last time I checked, the job description for mayor of New York City didn’t include negotiating Middle East peace agreements, enforcing international criminal law, or deciding which foreign heads of government should be hauled away in cuffs. New Yorkers have enough on their plate with crime, homelessness, sanitation, public transit, and the occasional pothole large enough to qualify for its own ZIP code. Yet somehow, instead of focusing on the city he was elected to run, Zohran Mamdani has positioned himself as America’s newest expert on international diplomacy. That’s an interesting career choice for someone whose authority ends well before international borders begin.
Why Is Mamdani Talking About Arresting Netanyahu?
The controversy began after Mamdani doubled down on his belief that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu should be arrested if he comes to New York, pointing to the International Criminal Court’s arrest warrant accusing Netanyahu of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. Mamdani acknowledged that New York City itself has no authority to carry out such an arrest but argued that the federal government should enforce the ICC warrant. He also said his position isn’t unique to Netanyahu and would apply to anyone accused of war crimes by the International Criminal Court.
The ICC Isn’t the Supreme Court of the United States
That brings us to one of the most important facts often left out of the discussion. The International Criminal Court may have issued a warrant, but the United States is not a party to the Rome Statute that created the ICC and does not recognize the court’s jurisdiction over the United States or many of its allies. That doesn’t make the allegations disappear, but it does mean the legal obligations imposed on ICC member nations don’t automatically apply here. In other words, a mayor can’t simply decide to enforce an international court order that the United States itself does not recognize as binding.
Could Trump Actually Have Mamdani Arrested?
This is the moment in the interview that has everyone talking. Marc Thiessen argued that if Mamdani actually ordered New York police to arrest Netanyahu, President Trump could direct the Justice Department to prosecute the mayor instead. Thiessen cited the American Service-Members’ Protection Act, along with federal statutes protecting foreign officials and internationally protected persons while visiting the United States. According to Thiessen’s legal interpretation, attempting to execute an ICC warrant against Netanyahu while he was in the United States could itself violate federal law. Whether a court would ultimately agree is impossible to know because the situation has never happened, but Thiessen’s point was clear: the person facing legal jeopardy might not be Netanyahu—it could be the mayor ordering the arrest.
What If Mamdani Actually Tried?
Let’s play this out for a moment. Netanyahu arrives in New York for a United Nations event. Mamdani orders the NYPD to arrest him. The NYPD would almost certainly refuse because local officers are bound by federal law just like everyone else. If Thiessen’s interpretation is correct, the Justice Department—not the NYPD—would become the central player, and the legal focus could shift from Netanyahu to the mayor who attempted to carry out the arrest. Whether that ever happens is another question entirely, but it’s certainly not the ending Mamdani’s supporters are envisioning.
The Double Standard Nobody Wants to Discuss
Perhaps the most uncomfortable question raised by critics isn’t even about Netanyahu. It’s about consistency. Every September, New York welcomes representatives from governments around the world for the United Nations General Assembly. Some come from regimes accused of imprisoning political opponents, suppressing religious minorities, operating brutal prison systems, or sponsoring terrorism. Iranian officials have repeatedly visited New York despite decades of hostility toward the United States. Chinese leaders represent a government accused of widespread abuses against Uyghurs. North Korea’s regime remains among the world’s most repressive. Yet somehow, public campaigns demanding their arrest rarely dominate the conversation. If the standard is truly that anyone accused of crimes against humanity should face immediate arrest, critics argue that standard ought to be applied consistently rather than selectively.
October 7 Cannot Simply Become a Footnote
Another criticism directed at Mamdani was what he initially left out. His original social media video discussing Netanyahu’s arrest reportedly made no mention of Hamas’ October 7 terrorist attacks, the massacre that triggered Israel’s military campaign in Gaza. When questioned later by reporters, Mamdani did describe October 7 as “a horrific war crime,” but many critics argued that the omission mattered because it removed the very event that set the current conflict into motion. One can condemn civilian deaths in Gaza while also recognizing that Hamas deliberately launched one of the deadliest terrorist attacks in Israel’s history. Ignoring either reality produces an incomplete picture.
Governing by Social Media
Unfortunately, this has become the modern political playbook. Instead of governing, politicians increasingly compete for viral moments. Every issue becomes an opportunity for a dramatic video, a carefully crafted social media post, or a headline designed to generate outrage. The reward structure is obvious. Solving sanitation problems rarely trends on X. Declaring that you’ll arrest a foreign prime minister certainly does. Unfortunately, governing isn’t measured in likes, reposts, or cable television appearances. It’s measured by whether the streets are safer, the budget is balanced, and public services actually work.
Americans Deserve Leaders Focused on America
Regardless of where anyone stands on Israel, Gaza, or Netanyahu himself, Americans should expect elected officials to respect the limits of their offices. A mayor’s responsibility is to run a city. Congress shapes federal policy. The President conducts foreign affairs. Courts decide legal disputes. When politicians begin acting as though every office carries unlimited authority over global affairs, constitutional boundaries become little more than suggestions. That’s a dangerous precedent regardless of which party happens to hold office.
Final Thoughts
Imagine explaining this headline to someone just a few years ago: the mayor of America’s largest city threatens to arrest the prime minister of one of America’s closest allies, and a former White House speechwriter responds by arguing that the mayor could be the one arrested instead. You couldn’t write political satire much better than that. Whether Marc Thiessen’s legal argument would ever be tested in court is almost beside the point because it’s extraordinarily unlikely the situation will ever arise. But the controversy exposes something much bigger than one politician’s comments. It shows how quickly some elected officials are willing to chase international headlines while the problems they were actually elected to solve continue piling up back home. Maybe New Yorkers would rather see City Hall spend less time debating the International Criminal Court and more time making sure the garbage gets picked up on schedule.
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JIMMY
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