U.S. Lawmaker Ilhan Omar Renews Push for U.S. Membership in ICC amid Trump Opposition

WASHINGTON -U.S. Representative Ilhan Omar has renewed efforts to have the United States join the International Criminal Court (ICC), introducing a resolution urging Washington to ratify the Rome Statute, the treaty that established the world’s permanent war crimes court.

The resolution comes days after U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said President Donald Trump’s administration was committed to weakening the ICC, pledging to use all available tools to limit the court’s influence.

Omar, a Democrat representing Minnesota, said the United States should strengthen international justice mechanisms rather than undermine them if it is committed to defending human rights and the rule of law.

“The ICC remains an essential avenue for justice, particularly for victims who have nowhere else to seek accountability,” Omar said in remarks accompanying the resolution.

The proposal also calls for the repeal of sanctions and travel restrictions imposed by the Trump administration on ICC officials.

The renewed initiative highlights the widening political divide in Washington over the role of the Hague-based court, with Democrats generally advocating greater engagement with international institutions while many Republicans argue the ICC threatens U.S. sovereignty and could expose American personnel to politically motivated prosecutions.

The Trump administration has repeatedly criticised the court over investigations involving U.S. military personnel and Israeli officials. Neither the United States nor Israel is a party to the Rome Statute and both reject the ICC’s jurisdiction over their nationals.

The dispute intensified after the ICC issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant over alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity linked to the Gaza conflict. Israel rejects the allegations, while the ICC’s prosecutor has said there are reasonable grounds to proceed with the cases.

Omar’s resolution is unlikely to advance in the Republican-controlled Congress, where support for joining the ICC has historically been limited. However, it adds to an ongoing debate over the United States’ role in international justice, accountability for war crimes and the future of multilateral institutions amid conflicts in Gaza, Ukraine and elsewhere.