War Crimes
2024 July
2024-07-01 In July of 2024 Trump argued that a President has absolute immunity from criminal prosecution. In 2026 Trump invoked the 2024 ruling to argue for broad immunity from criminal prosecution regarding “official acts”.
https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/23pdf/23-939_e2pg.pdf
https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/LSB11194
https://www.cato.org/blog/trump-v-us-great-power-comes-great-immunity
2025 July
2025-07-13 News outlets reported Israel and the U.S. pushing efforts to relocate Palestinians to Sudan or Libya.
2025 August
2025-08-30 The U.S. Navy deployed warships into international waters and shot down a boat from Venezuela. News outlets reported Venezuela took this as an invasion, and many speculated this was a war crime.
2025 September
2025-09-06 JD Vance posted on social media, “killing cartel members who poison our fellow citizens is the highest and best use of our military”. Brian Krassenstein replied, “killing the citizens of another nation who are civilians without any due process is called a war crime”. JD Vance responded, “I don’t give a shit what you call it”. Vance also wrote, “Democrats:let’s send your kids to die in Russia…Republicans:actually let’s protect our people from the scum of the earth”.
https://x.com/JDVance/status/1964341094226743787
2025-09-10 A news outlet reported initial survivors to the boat strike, and that the U.S. turned back to finish the job. According to news outlets, if this was true it would be considered a breach of Rules of Engagement and an act of murder.
2025-09-11 After their return from a fact-finding mission, Democratic Senators Chris Van Holland and Jeff Merkley released a report accusing Israel of collective punishment and ethnic cleansing.
2025-09-16 The UN Independent International Commission issued a 72-page report condemning the Israeli government of violating 4-out-of-5 acts prohibited under the 1948 Genocide Convention.
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c8641wv0n4go
2025-09-22 The Trump administration made plans to send $6B in arms sales to Israel including 30 Apache helicopters.
2025 December
2025-12-10 According to Reuters, the Trump administration demanded that the International Criminal Court amend its founding documents – the Rome Statute – to ensure that Trump and his senior officials would not be investigated or prosecuted for any war crimes, and threatened sanctions if the ICC didn’t comply.
2026 February
2026-02-24 During the State of the Union, Trump quipped about killing Venezuelans in boat strikes, “We very seriously damaged their fishing industry, also. Also, nobody wants – nobody wants to go fishing anymore”.
https://stluciatimes.com/178617/2026/02/trump-acknowledges-us-campaign-has-damaged-fishing-industry/
2026-02-28 The US, in joint efforts with Israel, bombed Iran. Only one of the news outlets reported over 200 people including 170 schoolchildren were killed on the first day of bombings. The US did not seek Congressional or international approval and did not provide proof there was an imminent threat warranting the bombing. For context, Trump stated several months ago that the US already destroyed nuclear bombs in Iran and ran on the platform that the US would never start a war in the Middle East. Trump said after the bombing, “When we are finished, take over your government. It will be yours to take”.
https://www.reuters.com/world/iran-crisis-live-explosions-tehran-israel-announces-strike-2026-02-28/
https://www.ms.now/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/why-trump-war-iran-benefits
https://www.cnn.com/2026/02/28/middleeast/maps-iran-tehran-attack-vis-intl
https://www.cfr.org/articles/gauging-the-impact-of-massive-u-s-israeli-strikes-on-iran
https://www.democracynow.org/2026/02/28/special_report_us_israel_launch_unprovoked
2026 March
2026-03-30 Trump publicly threatened to bomb desalination plants, electric plants and oil wells in Iran. Bombing civilian power and infrastructure is a war crime. When pressed about this during a press brief, Karoline Leavitt said, “Um, look – the president has made it quite clear to the Iranian regime at this moment in time as evidenced by the statement that you just read, that their best move is to make a deal – or else the United States armed forces has capabilities beyond their wildest imagination and the president is not afraid to use them…” at which point the journalist reiterated ‘war crime’ concerns. Karoline Leavitt continued, “That’s not what I said, Garrett, and you’re saying the word potential for a reason, ‘cuz I’m sure some experts are telling you that in your ear to try to ask me that question. Of course, this administration and the United States armed forces will always act within the confines of the law, but with respect to achieving the full objectives of Operation Epic Fury, President Trump is going to move forward unabated, and he expected – expects – the Iranian regime to make a deal with the administration”.
https://www.thedailybeast.com/leavitt-melts-down-after-being-quizzed-on-trump-war-crimes/
https://www.cnn.com/2026/03/30/world/live-news/iran-war-us-israel-trump
https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/video/9.7147083
https://www.dw.com/en/iran-war-trump-threatens-to-blow-up-desalination-plants/live-76586932
2026 April
2026-04-02 Trump proudly posted the U.S. bombing of a civilian suspension bridge in Tehran, which killed 8 people and wounded 95.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S2dxrtOgvEY
2026-04-05 Trump wrote on TruthSocial, “Tuesday will be Power Plant Day, and Bridge Day, all wrapped up in one, in Iran. There will be nothing like it!!! Open the Fuckin’ Strait, you crazy bastards, or you’ll be living in Hell – JUST WATCH! Praise be to Allah. President DONALD J. TRUMP”. Several leaders responded with backlash, condemning the unhinged post.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X6GRMdn8ZD4&list=WL&index=3&t=59s
https://www.npr.org/2026/04/05/nx-s1-5774368/iran-war-updates
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/apr/05/trump-iran-threats-politician-reactions
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cvg0q6wdzp1o
https://time.com/article/2026/04/05/trump-power-plants-iran-hormuz/
https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/116351998782539414
https://x.com/mb_ghalibaf/status/2040823145251090462
2026-04-07 In July of 2024 Trump argued that a President has absolute immunity from criminal prosecution. In 2026 Trump invoked the 2024 ruling to argue for broad immunity from criminal prosecution regarding “official acts”.
https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/23pdf/23-939_e2pg.pdf
https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/LSB11194
https://www.cato.org/blog/trump-v-us-great-power-comes-great-immunity