On Wednesday, July 15th, 2026, Democratic congresswoman Ilhan Omar introduced a resolution urging the United States to join the International Criminal Court (ICC). This marks the first congressional opposition to the Trump administration’s efforts to "systematically disable" the ICC through sanctions and diplomatic pressure.

Omar’s resolution follows US Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s recent vow to dismantle the war crimes tribunal. Omar emphasized the ICC’s importance, stating, “The ICC is a crucial tool for justice in places where victims have nowhere else to turn. If we truly believe in human rights and the rule of law, we should strengthen international justice – not undermine it. The United States should lead by example and show that no one is above the law.”

European lawmakers have also defended the ICC, rejecting the Trump administration’s claim that the court threatens US sovereignty. An EU spokesperson, Anouar El Anouni, declared, “Attacks or threats against the court, elected officials, personnel or those cooperating with the court are simply not acceptable.”

Legal experts informed the Guardian that Rubio mischaracterized the ICC’s jurisdiction, noting the court cannot prosecute crimes on US soil because the US is not a party to the Rome Statute, the 2002 treaty that established the ICC. The ICC was created following successful ad hoc tribunals addressing atrocities in the former Yugoslavia, Rwanda, Cambodia, and Sierra Leone.

Omar’s resolution coincides with two US advocacy groups suing the Trump administration, arguing that Trump’s 2025 executive order forced them to stop constitutionally protected work related to the ICC’s investigation into alleged Israeli war crimes in the West Bank and Gaza.

The ICC had briefly enjoyed bipartisan support after Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, despite Donald Trump’s earlier actions against the court during his first term.

Sources