Rep. Ro Khanna is pressing President Donald Trump to follow international law if Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu travels to the United States. The California Democrat said the U.S. should not ignore international legal obligations when it comes to leaders facing action from the International Criminal Court.
Khanna also included Russian President Vladimir Putin in his argument, saying the same standard should apply broadly rather than selectively. His position centers on the idea that U.S. policy should be consistent when dealing with foreign leaders accused of grave conduct during war.
The congressman framed his criticism around civilian deaths, arguing that political leaders cannot avoid accountability when women and children are killed. His comments put a sharp spotlight on the debate over whether Washington should cooperate with international institutions or set them aside when close allies are involved.
The remarks add to growing political pressure over how the Trump administration would handle a possible Netanyahu visit. They also underscore wider divisions in U.S. politics over Israel, the ICC and the role of international law in American foreign policy.
