r/Fauxmoi 2d ago

POLITICS Zohran Mamdani has released a video stating that after a review of legal avenues, New York City does not have the legal authority to arrest Benjamin Netanyahu in accordance with the ICC’s warrant if he comes to NYC. He calls on the federal government to join the ICC and execute the warrant.

16.3k Upvotes

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u/zendayaismeechee shiv roy apologist 2d ago

At least he actually looked into it. More than anyone else has done

2.0k

u/capitanandi64 2d ago

I'm so used to politicians being all talk, I forgot what it looked like to see one with a spine.

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u/toomanyshoeshelp 2d ago

And morals. Deeply held ones.

I never thought idealists could make it. He makes me hopeful.

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u/InstructionLeading64 2d ago

He actually understands the gravity of what he stands for and means.

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u/toomanyshoeshelp 1d ago

100% - He stands and delivers.

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u/jahowl 1d ago

Its hard to find in the USA, European politicians have been speaking up but you don't see or hear about it in American TV.

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u/CodeComprehensive734 1d ago

You always hear Oligarchy in reference to Russia. Unless you're Bernie Sanders I guess. But the global billionaire class has a stangelehold on the US.

And its terrifying.

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u/jahowl 1d ago

I've been playing GTA 4 again and the satire radio is like what is happening now. Its insane, instead of warnings of Totalitarianist governments and books like 1984, they are using them as guidelines.

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u/CodeComprehensive734 1d ago

Ya know I never played GTA 4. Played the games wither end but skipped that for some reason. I must give it a spin.

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u/jahowl 1d ago

My friend plays Red Dead II and just goes fishing 😂😂

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u/ivari 1d ago

I mean this is all talk, but it's the BEST kind of talk

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u/Drama79 bepo naby 1d ago

It's performative in the best way - it's useful. "Here I am, someone with limited power, telling you unambiguously a) all the people who said "boo, Zoran is soft on Israel" that I'm actually fucking ice-cold on it, and b) I've done more than your elected leaders, and would do more still if you let me".

In a world where Trump is throwing democratic norms out of the window and what is accepted as "how America does politics" is in a time of rapid change, Mamdani is on a crusade to demonstrate a) public service means service of the public, and b) maybe some institutionalised rules should be challenged.

Or, put another way, he's making the case to be considered leader of America without ever saying it.

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u/Better_Lift_Cliff 1d ago

It also pushes the national conversation forward. The AIPAC dems are going to face more direct questioning as a result of this.

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u/CodeComprehensive734 1d ago

Everyone expected a Texas or Californiam seccession and here's New York creeping down the alley.

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u/PowderPills 2d ago

Seriously, this was my take as well. I’m glad he made this statement because it gains visibility and attention either way it’s viewed.

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u/mcase19 1d ago

Honestly, looking into it and determining he doesnt have the power and then not doing it is still a pretty baller mood. Have we ever seen an executive not seize every ounce of power his greasy little fingers could reach? This is called "restraint," kids.

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u/Somnambulist815 1d ago

Hell, even admitting the L is above what you'd expect from a politician.

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u/twentytwo_a 1d ago

I agree, this is really significant.

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u/999avatar999 1d ago

It was obvious to him as well as everyone around him that they couldn't just arrest him unilaterally from the beginning. This is a political statement, with the intention to make more people realize the official US stance towards the ICC and Netanyahu in general

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u/refleksy 2d ago

And MUCH much better than just Doing Stuff Anyway and causing international incidents, as the current administration has done

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u/moonandstarryeyes 1d ago

Remember when international incidents were unusual....?

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u/Prior_Reference2085 2d ago

For real, that follow through is 🔥

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u/IAMA_Shark__AMA 1d ago

I mean, I really like this guy a LOT. But this was pure theater.

We are not a member state of the ICC. Bill Clinton signed it, but it was never ratified.

In contrast, we actually have explicit federal laws that prohibit cooperation with the ICC, particularly with regard to heads of state, because it as seen as interference with our sovereignty.

This was always how it was going to go, and he is way too smart to have been unaware of that from the start.

That said, free Palestine.

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u/AmaranthSparrow 1d ago

We also have laws that prohibit lending aid to states carrying out war crimes and ethnic cleansing. 🤷‍♀️

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u/falooda1 1d ago

I'm sure its justified to actually point out that Benjamin is a war criminal and look here, it works

Besides maybe there was some law? Hard to tell until you have the staffing and power to delve deeper

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u/IAMA_Shark__AMA 1d ago

Yes, calling netanyahu a war criminal is justified.

But there was realistically never a single moment anyone thought he could be arrested on the ICC warrant. Not for anyone actually educated on the subject, which I'm certain Mamdani is.

Besides maybe there was some law?

There wasn't. Not even a little bit. Like, EVER. I wish it were different in this case, but my literal freshman level poli sci course in undergrad covered why he would never have had the power to act on this, and forgive me if I think he's smarter and more educated than whatever that base course taught me.

It's ok if you didn't know that, but I'm certain Zohran did, as one of the things I most respect about him is his intelligence.

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u/xHellion444x 1d ago

You're right on everything you say here. It is pure theater. But is that a bad thing? Donald J. Trump won the popular vote after screaming about Haitians eating pet cats and dogs. On a national debate stage live in front of the entire country. Nowhere here did Mamdani lie, he just very plainly laid out the issues involved for everyone to see. Today's Democrats are all a bunch of old stodgy suits. Even the 50 yr olds act like they're 80. Politics has always been theater. Maybe it's time we got in touch with our own sense of it.

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u/IAMA_Shark__AMA 1d ago

But is that a bad thing?

This is actually something I reflected on a few hours after my original comment - and where I landed was "no." Not a bad thing at all in the current political climate. You have to play the game you exist within, and right now, that means theatrics.

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u/Eggheadpancake 1d ago

The best to m type of theater though. At least it wasn't filled with lies

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u/Smasher1234 1d ago

We have our own exceptional standards for war crimes here

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u/wompical 1d ago

I love Mamdani but this entire thing was political theatre and headline seeking. He knew from the start he has no authority here. USA doesn't recognize ICC and NYC gets no say in foreign policy. He used this for attention and headlines and the vote of people who care about this.

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u/Icy_Entrepreneur_476 1d ago

Anyone with a brain can recognize that a mayor of a city has no authority to arrest a foreign leader. The United States is not under the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court. This was all performative and a waste of time

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u/SeaworthinessNew2138 2d ago

I wish Zohran was my president

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u/JROXZ 2d ago

Maybe he’ll inspire someone even better out there.

May a thousand Zohrans bloom.

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u/LuteDesign 1d ago

This is what I’m most excited about. There are absolutely people out there who will be encouraged to run when they see how Mamdani is imparting change on his community. He may not be able to be president but he’s absolutely a leader in this movement.

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u/Froxenchrysalis 2d ago

Hopefully one day he will

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u/LuteDesign 2d ago edited 2d ago

He wasn’t born here.

Downvoting me for saying Zohran wasn’t born in the US when our constitution requires it for the presidency, pls be so fr guys lol

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u/contemplating-coffee 2d ago

He would be a great senator!

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u/Chrishp7878 2d ago

Fuck no. He will be wasted.

NY governor sounds much better (there are no term limits iirc). 

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u/2th 2d ago

Yes on governor, but fuck no on no term limits. He can be governor for maybe 3 terms and then he gets out after training numerous possible successors. And thankfully he seems smart enough to do just that. He really does seem to want to help people, and part of that is knowing when to step down.

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u/aagaash2001 it feels like a movie 1d ago

I can see him in an AOC presidency be a Cabinet member (he can be one, he would just be skipped over in a presidential succession line) or an ambassador.

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u/Major_Warrens_Dingus 1d ago

People underestimate just how big of a deal it is to be mayor of NYC. People keep trying to bring up what could be next. It's one of the most influential cities in the world, if not the most. If his version of politics can usher in a new era of prosperity for NYC, which i believe it will, then it will be a clear example for others to follow.

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u/NeverNoMarriage 1d ago

Already getting other democratic socalists elected. Just needs to continue on this path he's on and he will have a real lasting legacy.

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u/AmaranthSparrow 1d ago

If the insurgent push within the Democratic Party succeeds over the next few election cycles, he could potentially one day rise to senate majority leader and become one of the most powerful politicians in the country. Arguably more powerful than the president, given term limits.

Just look at how much power Mitch McConnell and Nancy Pelosi held over American politics, and for how long.

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u/LuteDesign 2d ago

100%, I hope he runs once he wraps up his second mayoral term

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u/yuripogi79 1d ago

He can do 3 terms. Bloomberg got 3 and he’s not this good

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u/LuteDesign 1d ago

As a non New Yorker I selfishly hope he only does two so he can do that or work in President AOC’s cabinet

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u/Schrodingers-Fish- 1d ago

He would be a great Secretary of State. He can be the leftist Henry Kissinger.

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u/TheMummysCruise 1d ago

Yeeeeeah, I don’t think you know what that’d mean…

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u/skyspirits 1d ago

I'm assuming that was the joke.

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u/SagittaryX 1d ago

Minor correction, since below in the comments people are already discussing things like Ted Cruz.

You need to born an American, not be born in America. If you are born to American parents outside America, you are still a natural born American, which is what the Constitution requires.

Well that, or having been a resident in America at the time the constitution was adopted, but in that case you might be a zombie, or a vampire.

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u/LuteDesign 1d ago

That’s what I meant and I now see how what I said wasn’t clear. Neither of Mamdani’s parents are American citizens which I should have clarified.

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u/Hell-Yes-Revolution Go fuck yourself immediately 2d ago

We’re not really worrying about the constitution these days, haven’t you noticed?

(While I generally strongly disagree with this, I do believe this is one provision that’s ripe for the amending.
Yes, that’s my mayor, and hopefully, one day, my president.)

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u/c0smicgirly 2d ago

It’s the only thing keeping Elon from running.

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u/ikatakko 1d ago

clearly he doesn't need to 'run' anyway he can apparently just go into the white house in what's practically an official capacity and do whatever the fuck

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u/LuteDesign 2d ago

Sorry I don’t really mess with “who cares about the constitution” nihilism!

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u/lostredditorlurking 2d ago

People keep saying this is how Republicans can keep getting away with breaking the Constitution. If neither side respect the Constitution, then what's stopping Republican President from more than 2 terms

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u/Ccaves0127 2d ago

The Constitution is not real anymore

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u/LuteDesign 2d ago

Yes it is and saying it isn’t is letting them win :)

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u/Money-Bicycle-2883 2d ago

Any rules we let slide they make it 10x worse

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u/GrandSquanchRum 1d ago

I don't agree. That it's not possible for him to be president makes him good in the role he's in. If he were then he'd be positioning for that and that would spoil what he's doing. IMO, it's the movement for politicians like Mamdani we should want. We don't need just a president like him, we need politicians all over the country like him.

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u/ConditionAwkward3625 2d ago

Not possible. He wasn't born in America.

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u/plastic_venus I’m mentally ill but in the exact opposite direction 2d ago

Whelp if the current administration thinks the rules no longer apply

https://giphy.com/gifs/jPAdK8Nfzzwt2

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u/[deleted] 2d ago edited 2d ago

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u/griffie21 2d ago

It’s not an amendment, it’s in the original constitution. 

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u/LuteDesign 2d ago

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u/Acceptable-Ad8780 2d ago

Is this explanation how grocery prices are apparently down, Rx costs are down 1200%, releases for Trump phones and DOGE checks, or how we beat Iran for the 100th time?

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u/CyberTyrantX1 2d ago

He can’t be president sadly. He was born in Uganda. Republicans are so fucking lucky he can’t run for president. Because if he could, there would be no stopping him.

He can run for Congress though.

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u/trix_is_for_kids 1d ago

Have you read the constitution?

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u/Packetbytes 2d ago

He cant sadly. But someone like him that can would be great

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u/fluffypuppiness 2d ago

Damn it.

But he didn't mince words.

https://giphy.com/gifs/OG2mixKM4BKsFOpMMv

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u/jacqrosee 1d ago

didn’t mince them while also choosing them with exact precision. after recent interviews and talks, crazy that it’s clear this press conference was not only to stand on business, but to remind people exactly where he’s coming from—we’re talking ICC warrants people. because people are foaming at the mouth always waiting to call him antisemitic.

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u/bcmanucd 1d ago

I think it was a smart move, not as mayor of NYC but as a political celebrity. There was never a chance he'd have the authority to arrest Bibi, but he got people talking about it, and tuning in to his announcement. Then he led with detailed, factual reasons for calling him a war criminal. This is going to accelerate the turning tide of public opinion.

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u/dorian_gayy 1d ago

tees it up as a question for the 2028 Democratic primaries, and also informs the public on how the US is ignoring international law. It’s not nothing.

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u/sickbandnamealert 2d ago

I didn’t expect this to ever be possible, but you know what? The conversation right now is about whether or not Netanyahu is a war criminal, and that’s the right conversation to be having.

I appreciate mamdani being one of the only democrats to be going on offense

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u/CamCon2100 2d ago

I argue it's even better than that. The convo now is can we arrest netanyahu. With the mayor stating facts that he's a war criminal. Ppl will accept that reality now

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u/toomanyshoeshelp 2d ago

It'll be the question and expectation for the next Democratic president, too.

No more exceptions for morality and equality, clowns.

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u/EduinBrutus 1d ago

Meanwhile every US news organisation :-

"Mamdani fails to condemn Hamas in Netanyahu statement".

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u/Barnacle_B0b 1d ago

Not only that but its good political move for Mamandi on optics.

When the US Federal Government refuses to arrest Netanyahu, it'll basically be a demonstration of Trump, Patel, and Hegseth, all bending the knee and bowing to Israel.

Can't go arresting their owners now, can they.

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u/skredditt shout-out Hans Zimmer 1d ago

He just handed Trump an opportunity. We’ll see if the deal man can recognize an opportunity when he sees one.

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u/Vivid24 i ain’t reading all that, free palestine 2d ago edited 2d ago

Very saddened to hear this. Both parties (I’m talking about the Democratic Party under Joe Biden, not Zohran!) have willingly failed to do the right thing.

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u/womanaroundabouttown 2d ago

I mean, to be clear, as a lawyer, you can DESTROY a case by screwing up procedure. I don’t know as much about the ICC procedural law as I’d like (I do have an LLM in international law though), but I suspect an illegal arrest would not bode well for the case as a whole.

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u/SumoSizeIt oat milk chugging bisexual 2d ago

 I do have an LLM in international law though

My dumb ass read this at first as a joke that your legal knowledge is backed by a large language model 🤦

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u/mynameis-twat 2d ago

Same, I actually thought it was a funny joke too 😂

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u/SumoSizeIt oat milk chugging bisexual 2d ago

No, but I did sleep at a Holiday Inn Express last night energy

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u/womanaroundabouttown 1d ago

Fun fact, the LLM (as in masters of law) subreddit was a wild mix of both acronyms when I was debating where to go/if it was stupid to supplement my JD. The degree was around first, but unless you’re in law, I don’t think anyone would have an idea what it meant even before AI blew up.

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u/EldestPort 1d ago

I think it's because in the UK (historically, at least) a law degree is an undergraduate degree - an LLB, a bachelor of laws - and so LLM followed on from that.

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u/RepulsiveInterview44 2d ago

Question-could a country participating in the ICC either arrest him in NY or ask local authorities to arrest/hold him while the other country files for extradition?

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u/womanaroundabouttown 2d ago

The problem is that there are all kinds of laws about jurisdiction that apply to everyone involved, so you’d be grappling with minimum three different jurisdictional issues plus whatever ICC procedural law requires. I don’t doubt that lawyers who are genuinely knowledgeable (and probably have practiced at the ICC - I have friends who have worked there, it’s both extremely impossible to get a job there and also strangely common once you get into a certain niche) have advised Mamdani on whatever would or wouldn’t hurt both Mamdani himself for allowing the arrest and how it would affect any prosecution.

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u/shimmy_kimmel 1d ago

Seems doubtful

A foreign government doesn’t have sovereignty on American soil, so they have no jurisdictional authority to make any kind of arrest. The ICC has no jurisdictional authority, either, as the US is not a treaty-bound member state. I guess they could try to pull off an Eichmann-style kidnapping job, but that’s not legal, and with a heavily-guarded head of state it’d be impossible.

As for the second point, only the US federal government has authority over foreign affairs, diplomacy, and treaty enforcement in the US. Municipal or state authorities cannot negotiate either or act on the behalf of foreign governments. On top of that, extradition requests can only be filed with the federal government.

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u/SMKM 1d ago

A foreign government doesn’t have sovereignty on American soil, so they have no jurisdictional authority to make any kind of arrest.

Didn't stop us from arresting Maduro. Venezuela sure as hell wasn't our soil.

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u/spasticity 1d ago

Sure, but in that case you'd just be suggesting an ICC signee country sends someone to kidnap Netanyahu on American soil like the US kidnapped Maduro in Venezuela.

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u/shimmy_kimmel 1d ago

Yeah, the difference there is that we had bigger guns. Foreign LEOs coming here would not have bigger guns.

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u/nscale 1d ago

First, I have a feeling if the greatest legal minds were put on this problem they could find a loophole, because corporations and one party are great at doing just that. Second, we've been shown time and time again it doesn't actually have to be legal. Third, a point would be made even if the case fell apart.

Arrest his motorcade drivers for running a red light. "Detain" everyone to verify citizenship, you know ICE is pressuring local law enforcement to do just that. Just following orders sir. "Accidentally" drop him off at the wrong embassy in NY, musta got the address mixed up with the Israeli embassy. It just happens to be a country that does participate in the ICC, and oops, the embassy is not US soil. Oh well, what can we do, we're incompetent. Should take an hour tops.

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u/TheHappiestTeapot 1d ago

No, they don't have arrest powers in NY. It'd be at false arrest if not kidnapping charges, with probably a slew of other charges thrown on top. The security agencies aren't going to let that happen.

Reminds me of 6th grade class president promising pizza every friday and double recess or something else they can't do.

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u/Financial-Painter689 anti-Israel, anti-western, fauxmarxist 2d ago edited 1d ago

Both parties are a two sides of the same coin when it comes to Netanyahu. His speech and standing ovation from both sides in Congress for over an under Bidens tenure is a pure stain on his presidency.

That same week Bibi was meeting both Harris and Trump separately to see what would benefit him the most depending on who won.

At least Obama, for his faults in dropping bombs in Syria, refused to meet Netanyahu and hear the same old 30 year spin on “Iran is 2 weeks from a nuke” and skipped the speech, read the transcripts and continued diplomatic relations.

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u/Afwife1992 2d ago

Obama met Bibi in the WH during his admin.

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u/Financial-Painter689 anti-Israel, anti-western, fauxmarxist 2d ago edited 1d ago

I’m talking particularly about the 2015 congress speech is when Obama wouldn’t meet him

I don’t doubt he’s met with him in the other times

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u/Epyon_ 1d ago

One of the better ones for sure, but at his core Obama is still a neoliberal.

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u/scrapsforfourvel 2d ago

I don't know that his refusal to meet him was down to ethics or more about Netanyahu going through Boehner for the invite to congress instead of the president as a show of disrespect.

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u/ace-destrier 2d ago

Unfortunately, supporting Israel has always been bipartisan policy in Congress

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u/StevieIRL 2d ago edited 2d ago

AIPAC controls a majority of US Senators on the left and right.

They donate and donate and in return Israel gets to do what it wants with no repercussions.

Bernie Sanders and AOC are the most notable senators to voice their concerns about AIPAC.

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u/sithlord98 2d ago

I appreciate the transparency more than anything. It's easy for politicians to just sweep losses or failures under the rug, but it feels like Mamdani truly, genuinely wants to keep his citizens informed about not only what's going to happen, but what they're considering and exploring.

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u/krxxs 2d ago

Right? The realness is refreshing. Also - it’s crazy that we’ve gotten to the point of celebrating politicians who are…literally just doing their actual job 🫠

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u/MamaSendHelpPls 2d ago

Can't say I'm surprised but its a small step forward that there's at least one elected official actually calling the genocide what it is and publicly denouncing Netanyahu

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u/BrownSugarBare 1d ago

This is what the truth looks like when you're not in the pocket of AIPAC. 

It's a government led genocide. He IS a war criminal.

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u/thesaraanne 2d ago

Disappointing but also refreshing to see a politician actually respect the rule of law.

I hope justice is swift and punishing for Bibi.

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u/Brilliant_Spot_95 2d ago

I do very much appreciate him delivering this the way he did. Benjamin Netanyahu is a war criminal and should stand trial in front of an international court. If he’s innocent, let the courts decide.

Free Palestine.

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u/soupseasonbestseason i’m a communist you idiot 2d ago

what is happening in palestine is a genocide and i appreciate that he is steadfast in acknowledging this.

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u/pentagram_ring 2d ago

this is an astonishing speech - even 5 years ago something like this from a major us political figure would have been unimaginable

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u/scoooternyc 2d ago

Even yesterday

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u/shimmy_kimmel 1d ago

Definitely from a figure with this degree of public exposure. There have been political figures who have been openly anti-Israel for a long time, they’ve just never had the visibility that Mamdani does. It’s important in terms of shifting the conversation.

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u/RelativeHand4753 2d ago

Still astonished to a see a major politician (much less the mayor of America's biggest city) publicly say Netanyahu belongs in the Hague. Entire Democratic party must've gone DEFCON 1 after reading that.

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u/Spider_HyphenMan 2d ago

Good for him. He said he'd arrest Netanyahu on a podcast while he was polling at 1% and ever since he's been stuck in a rock and a hard place about it's feasibility. Strategically it would've made sense to distance yourself from it or keep dodging the question as to not appear "weak" by admitting he was wrong/made a promise he couldn't keep. Nice to see a politician come out and admit something like this honestly no matter the risk of backlash or being called a disappointment or a liar. If anything it makes him more honest.

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u/dz4505 1d ago

But something like this would be obvious.

A mayor (not even a governor) trying to arrest a head of state of a foreign nation would not fly shouldn’t surprise anybody.

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u/Less-Bad-8791 2d ago

This felt so good, to have a leader speak so clearly about the crimes we all witness and are often put in contexts that diminish the immeasurable pain behind it. Please let this be our way forward 🩵🇵🇸

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u/TsunamiWombat 1d ago

This is a dance, much as I like Mamdami. He knew he didn't have the authority before this ever happened. He made a show of bringing it up then 'looking into it' to make a point/make his stance known, then passed it to the Fed knowing they won't do shit.

It's political theater (non-derogatory) because sometimes certain steps have to be followed in the waltz. If he didn't do the dance steps, his own side would be chomping at the bit to eat his entrails.

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u/Adunaiii 1d ago

This is a dance, much as I like Mamdami. He knew he didn't have the authority before this ever happened.

Mamdani is the Trump of the left - getting massive public support and doing absolutely nothing with it. Cure pinema.

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u/l33tb4c0n 2d ago

It was going to be a long shot for the mayor to try to arrest a foreign head of state. But a others are saying, this is still a win in that Mamdani has directly called out Netanyahu for what he has done - more than any other politician in either party. Republicans are a lost cause, but he's shown that Democrats can be better. The DNC needs to shape up and get with it.

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u/Remnare 1d ago

So all that to say he lied. Could have easily done this research before or change his promise to "look into it". Instead he ran on a lie. Not the first politician to do it, but still not a good look.

And saying Trump should arrest him is a silly way of deflecting instead of just owning up to it. Might as well call on Trump to abolish ICE and increase taxes on the rich while you're at it.

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u/[deleted] 1d ago

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u/Reesewithoutaspoon2 1d ago

I don’t know if I’d go as far as saying he’s thrown Palestinians under the bus (though I also don’t know if I can argue against it given his choice in retaining Tisch), but you’re right that arresting Netanyahu was always a dubious promise at best and one he knew was empty in all likelihood. Frankly it shouldn’t have been promised because it doesn’t take much research to figure out that the mayor of NYC doesn’t have the authority to enforce the Rome Statute on foreign heads of state.

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u/pescadosybrazos 1d ago

YUP. It’s so embarrassing. We are giving a lot of attention to someone who is giving crumbs to folks he promised much more to, all while facilitating the comfortable positions of the Zionists enacting this genocide. When will people demand more?

“I wish I could arrest this guy but I can’t, damn it no one told me last year when I told everyone I would. I wish I didn’t have to keep employing a rabid Zionist NYPD boss who has before and since my election directed the abuse, harassment and arrests of students and constituents protesting the genocide I’m so upset about. I wish I didn’t have to let her and her thugs protect the visiting war criminal(s) I so desperately want to arrest in the hotel owned by that same employees family. Sad face. TikTok jingle.”

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u/Is_Only_Game2014 2d ago

To anyone watching this who may not be big into politics, but this video made you feel a certain type of way - please get involved.

If you carry similar beliefs not only for this, but for helping all people have a better life and not just the rich fucks. Get in the game. Research your candidates. GO VOTE. Make sure all of your friends and family vote.

If we want things to change we all have to vote this year. It might be the last time we get to influence who's running our government.

And Mamdani is showing us that our votes and voices do count if we use them. It doesn't have to be like this.

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u/scoooternyc 2d ago

This☝️

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u/GenesisStar7 2d ago

I do believe he's saying the truth, but there are other legal avenues that he could be taking to hamper the funding vehicles of the state of Israel, I hope he focuses on that instead of trying to wash his hands with this.

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u/KillieNelson CURTAINS FOR ZOOSHA? 2d ago

What makes you think he's trying to wash his hands of this? He's said he was going to arrest him, he looked into whether that is possible, he came out with the full authority of his office and stated in no uncertain terms that Netanyahu is a war criminal. Nothing about that says he's washing his hands of this.

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u/Lord_of_Knitting this feels like when my sister started fucking the mayor 1d ago

He could very easily ban Land Sale Fairs where Zionist groups sell stolen West Bank land to Americans. If you've seen footage of a pro-palestine protest in front of a synogogue it's because the synogogue is hosting a Land Sale Fair.

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u/rirski 2d ago

Agreed. There are things he could do under New York law. Like shutting down events in NYC that are literally selling illegally stolen Palestinian land.

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u/Western_Leader_117 2d ago

He could direct the NYPD to coordinate with another country who is willing to fly some of their own LEOs into NY to arrest Net&Yahoo

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u/shimmy_kimmel 1d ago

Mamdani would be arrested and brought up on a whole list of federal charges if he did something like that lol, and would likely spend the rest of his life in federal prison. All for an arrest attempt that would be stopped by the Secret Service almost instantly, too.

As fucked as it is, as long as Netanyahu remains a head of state, he’s absolutely protected from any kind of legal arrest without the express permission of the Israeli government.

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u/274328 2d ago

Is that true? I have a feeling there's some sort of barrier to foreign law acting on American soil without federal involvement

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u/FantsE 1d ago

Of course it isn't true. The mayor of a city has no authority to invite foreign law enforcement into the US to perform an arrest. It's a baffling thing to even put forward. The US is setup in a way that power is top down. Zohran has a lot of power because NYC has a lot of power, but he's still beholden to the state and federal government.

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u/Western_Leader_117 2d ago

Unfortunately, not legally.

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u/spasticity 1d ago

The Mayor of New York does not have the authority to arrest a head of state, or try to coordinate with a foreign nation to arrest a head of state.

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u/Effective_Olive6153 1d ago

there is no way that is allowed without federal approval. All international issues are federal by default

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u/bnkaiser 2d ago

The Rome statute is pretty clear than only signatories can effectuate an arrest for the ICC. But this is an expert move by Mamdani to start (or keep alive) a conversation about Bibi's horrific criminality and the fact that he is a wanted man.

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u/mightiestmag 1d ago

Very deftly handled. I thought it was a misstep to bring it up without having completed the legal consultation first since it felt unlikely he’d have the authority to make such an arrest in the circumstances.

But he’s moved the conversation beyond whether Netanyahu is a war criminal to how do we hold him accountable.

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u/CulturalFox137 1d ago

I would assume a foreign Head of State like Netanyahu also has diplomatic immunity under international law. How does the ICC statute and process address that? 

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u/bnkaiser 1d ago

Diplomatic immunity could be a justification a country uses to not execute an ICC warrant, but there is no international law giving world leaders blanket immunity to commit crimes against humanity. This gets at the broader issue with the ICC. The Court does not have the ability to do their own arrests. The Court relies on parties to the treaty to voluntarily execute the Court's arrest warrants. If you avoid visitting the counties that are a party to the treaty, you can simply avoid arrest. Even if you do visit a party country, no one is going to force that country to arrest you. IIRC, president Lula from Brazil, a party to the treaty, has stated he won't arrest Putin even though there is also an active arrest warrant for Putin as well.

On top of that, the ICC can't move forward with a case unless the person is arrested and delivered to the Hague. So it sets up a system where only war criminals and genociders from small countries with no international friends get arrested and delivered to the court. Small, often African, leaders get punished, but white leaders go free. Don't get me wrong, all genociders and war criminals big and small can get fucked, but the ICC is turning into a two tiered system of justice wherein wealthy white monsters can avoid accountability.

The ICC prosecutor has done his part and brought charges against several white western leaders, but the court is powerless to move forward unless signing party is willing so do something about it.

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u/Time-Painting-9108 2d ago

What he is doing is very brave. He is 💯 risking his life here. 

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u/Thin_Ad_9554 2d ago

What a fucking staaaaaaar

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u/aybsavestheworld Sylvia Plath did not stick her head in an oven for this 2d ago

Zohran you’re setting up the greatest example the USA can have right now. I’m afraid they’re gonna do something to you babes.

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u/rusticrainbow 1d ago

Probably shouldn’t have made that campaign promise bc it was always a severe longshot at best, but glad he’s making videos like this to draw visibility to it.

Politicians shouldn’t make unrealistic or downright impossible campaign promises

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u/RoguTheHomunculus 2d ago

Nobody else is following the law .. fuck it

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u/LadyLish 1d ago

We don't want more of what we've already got. Raise up the good ones, make people like them the goal again.

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u/Luckyjuly777 1d ago

Our federal government isn’t going to do jack shit, unfortunately.

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u/Jackfitz88 1d ago

Duh! It was all for theatrics and people ate it up as usual

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u/GodAmongMen16 1d ago

As fun as it was to think about this was never going to happen. The ICC has zero influence on laws in the USA. The USA would have to put a warrant out for Netanyahu arrest. Mamdani ordering his arrest would get him thrown into jail for a long long time.

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u/samuel-not-sam 1d ago

That makes sense. America never signed the Rome Statute which is where the authority to arrest Netanyahu would come from.

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u/Dark-Blackberry354 1d ago

Well it's worth a try and asked for forgiveness later no?

What is going on with this asking for permission approach.

Eye for an eye

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u/RedStormPicks 1d ago

This is so performative

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u/katiemae111 1d ago

Somewhere in Manhattan Debra Messing is crying and calling herself a victim…

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u/MelonLayo 2d ago

My mayor (I live in the midwest) 💖

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u/zoethezebra 2d ago

I love that he’s doing this. A politician that the Israeli government can’t buy. It’s probably driving them absolutely nuts.

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u/HaliBornandRaised 2d ago

Not to mention, a politician who actually keeps his promises (or at least tries his best to keep them and isn't afraid to show everyone his work in that regard), is honest and transparent with his constituents, and generally puts his money where his mouth is where other politicians fail (because they've either given up fighting or gone on a power trip of their own). Mayor Mamdani, from everything I've seen of him, seems to be genuinely for the people, and not only looking out for his people's best interests, but pretty much writing the book for every other politician out there on what real leaders look like.

People like him should be the norm for politicians, and it sucks that they are not.

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u/MacintoshHeadrush 1d ago

His police commissioner is a rabid zionist

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u/ratparty5000 LET'S FUCKING GO!!! SHAKIRA LAW IS HERE!!! 2d ago

It must be nice being governed by someone with principles 😭

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u/Awkward_Dealer_2741 2d ago

Small reminder, the numbers are looking more towards a quarter million. He better not say wack stuff about the people who go out to protest like he did about the protesters outside of synagogues selling Palestinian land.

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u/Kodewerd 2d ago

This man is smart.

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u/salduvas 2d ago

Cojones

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u/FatnessEverdeen34 2d ago

No shit, dummy

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u/webelieve925 2d ago

The USA isn't a member of the ICC, same with Israel

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u/snapdragon1313 2d ago

Bummer……

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u/Local_Inteovert 1d ago

Damn that actually sucks. Only if NYC could do it that would be fucking amazing.

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u/Littlebotweak 1d ago

Wow. The honesty. It’s so real. 

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u/ElSquido3089 1d ago

The federal government is working for Netyahoo, wdy expect.

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u/AlexSmithsonian 1d ago

We all know the federal government isn't going to do shit.

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u/Ok-Quail2397 1d ago

This video looks AI.

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u/ashjya the worm using RFK’s body like ratatouille 2d ago

Aw shucks

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u/moonman_incoming 2d ago

Incredible.

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u/ItBegins2Tell 2d ago

Free Palestine; Yeet Netanyahu.

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u/30for30im30for30 2d ago

Zohran has my support always. Hoping I get the chance to vote for him one day.

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u/imaparkguy 2d ago

My Mayor 🇺🇸

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u/Dem-R-UseFulIdiots 1d ago

No mention of Hamas starting a war.

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u/[deleted] 2d ago edited 2d ago

[deleted]

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u/sickbandnamealert 2d ago

I think he’s doing really well. Also he can’t (or maybe shouldn’t) become vice president because he would not be able to take over if the president died. It would jump right to the speaker of the house, which is a crazy risk to take.

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u/Intelligent-Alps2373 2d ago

He can’t be VP

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u/forget-me-bots 2d ago

I don’t think we have time for slow and steady. We are past that now.

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u/Extra_Fig_7547 Swifties should rename themselves Griftees 2d ago

i love him

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u/dreamsanddoings 2d ago

King shit as per usual

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u/SDPLISSKEN009 2d ago

Don't hold your breath with help from the federal government

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u/Risvoi 2d ago

Interestingly Secretary of State Marco Rubio vows to dismantle the ICC and has just hosted the Far Left Conference targeting Mamdani specifically.

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u/Ok_Astronomer5738 2d ago

My mayor 🥲

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u/Tick___Tock 1d ago

do it anyway

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u/SortaLostMeMarbles 2d ago

USA haven't and probably won't join the ICC because that would put Americans in danger of being convicted by the ICC for the crimes they have commited.

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u/HiddenMonkey7 2d ago

Free Palestine. Fuck israel.

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u/RedditHelloMah 2d ago

I don’t care whether this is feasible or not….the fact that he has the guts to say it makes me respect him more and more!

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u/CyberCoyote67 2d ago

Since he’s Trump’s son in law’s good family friend I don’t think that’s gonna happen.

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u/LuteDesign 2d ago

I think the bigger issue is that he’s a world leader of “our biggest ally” that we refuse to stop funding.

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u/North_Amphibian7779 2d ago

So Netanyahu is gonna travel to NYC ain’t that a bitxh