WASHINGTON — Maverick Sen. John Fetterman laced into Mayor Zohran Mamdani, trashing him as a “clown” for trying to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during his visit to the Big Apple.
Hizzoner, who is deeply skeptical of prisons, said that his team was exploring the legality of detaining Netanyahu should the Israeli prime minister come to the Big Apple for the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) or another event.
“Well, it’s such a tough guy to say that kind of thing. He has no way to do that,” Fetterman (D-Pa.) chided on Fox News’ “Sunday Morning Futures.”
The mayor cited the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) 2024 arrest warrant for Netanyahu over the war in Gaza.
“Obviously, America’s not even part of that corrupt court, and so he’s just a clown to even say that. So he won’t try that,” Fetterman went on. “And now, just sit down and focus on the problems that they have in New York. That’s really not your purview.”
The Post contacted City Hall for comment.
During his campaign, Mamdani indicated he would attempt to arrest Netanyahu if the Israeli leader set foot on New York City soil. In a recent exchange with the New York Times’ “The Interview,” Mamdani doubled down on that.
“I believe that Prime Minister Netanyahu belongs in The Hague,” Mamdani told the podcast’s host, Lulu Garcia-Navarro, referring to the ICC’s headquarters.
“He’s a war criminal who has been charged by the International Criminal Court,” Hizzoner went on. “And what you will find is that is an opinion that is held by many, purely because of what his actions have wrought over these last many years.”
But when pressed, the mayor acknowledged that he may not have the legal authority to detain a world leader and committed to following the city’s laws.
“We won’t be writing our own laws to that end,” he said.
UNGA is set to convene in September. This will be the first session of UNGA while Mamdani is sitting in Gracie Mansion.
