President Donald Trump on Monday said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu "will not be arrested" while visiting the United States, despite what New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has suggested.

In a Truth Social post, Trump forcefully defended the Israeli leader and blasted Iran's regime, declaring there would be no effort to detain Netanyahu while he is in the United States.

"Benjamin Netanyahu will not be arrested, in any way, shape, or form, while in the United States of America," Trump wrote.

He praised Netanyahu for fighting "against the Islamic Republic of Iran," which Trump accused of killing tens of thousands of protesters and supporting attacks that have killed American troops over decades.

Trump added that "the only ones that should be arrested are the people that led Iran into this unprecedented SPIRAL OF DEATH AND DESTRUCTION."

Trump's comments came after Mamdani, a democratic socialist, told The New York Times he believes Netanyahu "belongs in The Hague" and is consulting with the city's legal department over what authority New York officials may have if the Israeli prime minister attends the United Nations General Assembly in September.

"I believe that Prime Minister Netanyahu belongs in The Hague," Mamdani told the Times, referring to the International Criminal Court warrant issued against the Israeli leader over allegations tied to the war in Gaza.

"Whatever the law allows me to do in New York City, that's what we will do," Mamdani added while acknowledging the legal questions remain under review.

Mamdani's remarks immediately drew condemnation from Israeli officials.

Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon accused the mayor of fueling antisemitism instead of focusing on crime and other city issues.

Danon vowed Netanyahu would travel to New York, address the U.N. General Assembly "with pride," and defend Israel's right to protect its citizens.

He also suggested Mamdani, not Netanyahu, should be facing arrest.

The ICC issued arrest warrants in 2024 for Netanyahu and former Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant over alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity during Israel's military campaign against Hamas.

Israel rejects the court's jurisdiction and has vigorously denied the allegations.

The United States is not a party to the Rome Statute that created the ICC, and the Trump administration and many congressional Republicans have sharply criticized the court's actions against Israeli officials.

Netanyahu is expected to travel to New York for the annual U.N. General Assembly, where the prospect of any attempt to detain him has become a flashpoint in the ongoing political debate over Israel, the ICC and U.S. support for its Middle East ally.

AFP contributed to this report.