Fetterman calls Mamdani a ‘clown’ over threat to arrest Netanyahu in New York

“He’s such a tough guy to say that kind of thing. He has no way to do that,” Fetterman said.

By World Israel News Staff

Sen. John Fetterman sharply criticized New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani on Sunday over his renewed effort to determine whether Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu could be arrested during a visit to the city.

The Pennsylvania Democrat dismissed Mamdani’s proposal as legally impossible and urged the mayor to focus on problems under his direct authority.

“He’s such a tough guy to say that kind of thing. He has no way to do that,” Fetterman said during an appearance on Fox News’ “Sunday Morning Futures.”

Fetterman noted that the United States is not a member of the International Criminal Court, which issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu in November 2024.

“He’s just a clown to even say that,” Fetterman said, before telling Mamdani to “sit down” and address New York City’s problems.

Mamdani revived the issue in an interview published over the weekend, saying his administration was consulting New York City’s Law Department about whether municipal authorities could act against Netanyahu if he attends the United Nations General Assembly in September.

“I believe that Prime Minister Netanyahu belongs in The Hague,” Mamdani said. “He’s a war criminal who has been charged by the International Criminal Court.”

Mamdani acknowledged that he did not know whether the mayor or the New York Police Department had the authority to detain a visiting foreign leader. He said his administration would remain within the limits of existing law.

“Whatever the law allows me to do in New York City, that’s what we will do,” Mamdani said. “But we won’t be writing our own laws to that end.”

Former legal officials and other experts have said a New York City attempt to arrest Netanyahu would almost certainly provoke a clash with the federal government, which controls US foreign policy and is responsible for diplomatic relations and the protection of visiting foreign officials.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul previously rejected Mamdani’s claim of authority, saying, “The New York City mayor does not have the power to do that.”

Netanyahu’s office issued a lengthy response Sunday, calling the ICC “a kangaroo court that has no jurisdiction over Americans or Israelis.”

The prime minister’s office said the warrant was issued by former ICC prosecutor Karim Khan shortly before allegations of sexual misconduct against him became public. Khan has denied wrongdoing.

“Instead of backing Khan’s criminal behavior, Mr. Mamdani should focus on fixing the damage his policies have caused New York,” Netanyahu’s office said.

The statement accused Mamdani of using attacks on Israel to divert attention from problems facing his administration.

Mamdani has repeatedly described Netanyahu as a war criminal and accused Israel of committing genocide in Gaza.

Israeli Ambassador to the UN Danny Danon said Netanyahu would not be deterred from visiting New York.

“Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu will come to New York, address the United Nations General Assembly with pride, and stand before the world to state Israel’s truth and its unwavering right to defend its citizens,” Danon said.

US Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz similarly dismissed Mamdani’s proposal as “pure political theater,” citing the lack of US membership in the ICC and the diplomatic protections afforded to foreign leaders attending UN meetings.

The dispute highlights widening divisions among Democrats over Israel. Fetterman has remained one of Israel’s most outspoken supporters in Congress, frequently breaking with progressive members of his party who have called for restrictions on US military assistance to Jerusalem.

Fetterman has warned that a broader shift against Israel could cause him to reconsider his place in the Democratic Party.

“If we became the kind of party that would embrace someone like Hasan Piker, maybe my party doesn’t want a reasonable, commonsense kind of Democrat,” Fetterman said, referring to the anti-Israel online commentator.

He added that support for Israel “used to be part of our core values and one of the reasons why I’m proud to be a Democrat.”