Senator Fetterman Calls NYC Mayor’s Netanyahu Arrest Proposal ‘Political Theater’

U.S. Senator John Fetterman on Monday dismissed New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s suggestion that his administration has discussed whether to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu if he visits New York for the U.N. General Assembly this fall.

Fetterman described the mayor as “a total clown” with no legal authority to carry out such a move.

During an interview, Fetterman stated that Mamdani’s comments amounted to political theater rather than a serious legal proposal.

“He’s a total clown,” Fetterman said. “He hasn’t the authority to arrest Netanyahu any more than I would have the authority to arrest him in Washington, D.C., if he visited.”

Fetterman urged Mamdani to focus on city governance.

“You’re a mayor, dude,” he said. “Pick up trash, fix some potholes, and really fix the homeless problem in your city. You’re way out of your league.”

The remarks followed Mamdani’s weekend assertion that Netanyahu “belongs in The Hague” because the International Criminal Court has charged the Israeli leader with war crimes in the Gaza Strip.

President Donald Trump stated that Benjamin Netanyahu would not be arrested in any way, shape or form while in the United States.

Trump added that Netanyahu is fighting against Iran, which he described as having killed 52,000 innocent protesters and spending the last 47 years killing American soldiers and others.

Netanyahu is expected to travel to New York in September for the opening of the U.N. General Assembly.

Fetterman emphasized that Mamdani’s comments carried no legal weight because the United States is not under the purview of the International Criminal Court.

“America is not part of the ICC,” he said. “There’s no standing. There’s nothing here.”

He accused Mamdani of using the issue to appeal to his political base rather than address city government issues.

“He is just pandering, trying to sound like a tough guy and making these weird threats,” Fetterman said. “He has no standing, and he knows that as well.”

Fetterman has been one of Israel’s strongest Democratic supporters in Congress and has repeatedly defended U.S. support for the country since Iranian-backed Hamas’ October 7, 2023, terrorist attack. He has also sharply criticized anti-Israel voices within his own party.