'Fuck Yeah': Theo Von Reacts as Zohran Mamdani Doubles Down on Netanyahu ICC Arrest Call

Zohran Mamdani has reiterated his support for the United States joining the International Criminal Court and honouring its arrest warrants, including the warrant issued for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The New York City mayor made the comments during an appearance on Theo Von's This Past Weekend podcast as the pair discussed Netanyahu's recent speech at the United Nations General Assembly.

Von asked whether, if Mamdani had his way, Netanyahu would have been arrested during his visit to New York. 'If I had my say, the US government would have joined the ICC, honored every single warrant that they've issued,' Mamdani replied.

Von responded: 'Fuck yeah.'

Mamdani Points to the ICC

Mamdani's answer reflects a position he has maintained while acknowledging limits on his authority as New York mayor.

Earlier this year, his administration reviewed whether New York City could execute the ICC warrant if Netanyahu entered the city. Mamdani later acknowledged that the city did not have independent legal authority to do so and instead called for action at the federal level.

The United States is not a party to the Rome Statute, the treaty that established the ICC. The court issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu on 21 November 2024.

ICC judges found reasonable grounds to believe Netanyahu bore criminal responsibility for alleged war crimes, including starvation as a method of warfare, and crimes against humanity, including murder, persecution, and other inhumane acts.

Netanyahu and Israel have rejected the allegations and challenged the ICC's jurisdiction.

Netanyahu's UN Speech Enters the Conversation

The podcast discussion followed Netanyahu's appearance at the UN General Assembly in New York in September. During his 24 September address, Netanyahu criticised Mamdani directly, accusing the mayor of antisemitism and attacking his statements about Israel and Gaza.

Mamdani rejected Netanyahu's accusations and told Von that he viewed the criticism as an attempt to shift attention away from the Israeli government's actions. He also repeated his characterisation of Netanyahu as the 'architect of a horrific genocide', an allegation rejected by Netanyahu and the Israeli government.

The distinction between Mamdani's accusation and the ICC case is important. The ICC warrant alleges war crimes and crimes against humanity. It does not charge Netanyahu with genocide, is not a conviction, and does not establish his guilt.

From City Authority to Federal Action

The exchange with Von highlights an important shift in how Mamdani frames the issue. His earlier rhetoric focused heavily on what could happen if Netanyahu visited New York. After reviewing the city's legal authority, Mamdani acknowledged that the mayor's office could not independently enforce the ICC warrant.

His argument now centres on Washington. Rather than claiming New York can make the arrest itself, Mamdani says the United States should become a member of the ICC and honour the court's warrants.

Von's blunt two-word reaction gave the exchange an immediate viral hook, but the legal distinction remains central. Mamdani is not claiming he currently possesses the power to arrest Netanyahu. He is advocating a fundamental change in US policy under which the country would join the ICC and, in Mamdani's view, honour its warrants.

That takes the dispute beyond a hypothetical mayoral arrest and into a much larger debate over America's relationship with the international court.