Rubio Just Sanctioned the President of the International Criminal Court — and Promised to Dismantle It Brick by Brick
Secretary of State Marco Rubio sanctioned ICC President Tomoko Akane of Japan and Senior Trial Lawyer Abdoulaye Seye of Senegal on Tuesday — designating both under Executive Order 14203 for directly engaging in the ICC’s efforts to investigate, arrest, detain, or prosecute officials from governments that never consented to the court’s jurisdiction.
The State Department posted the BBC’s own summary of what’s happening, apparently content to let the foreign press frame it: this is the Trump administration dismantling the International Criminal Court, quote, “brick by brick.”
That’s exactly right. And the bricks are coming down in the right order. Rubio’s statement was direct: “The ICC is a corrupt and fatally politicized supranational court that has maliciously abused its authority and exceeded its mandate. We will not tolerate its assault on state sovereignty.”
The sanctions are serious in practical terms. Any assets Akane or Seye hold in the United States — bank accounts, investments, real estate, payments — are frozen. American citizens, companies, and financial institutions are broadly barred from doing business with them. For officials who routinely travel to the United States for diplomatic and legal purposes, that’s not a symbolic gesture. It’s a real constraint on their ability to function.
The broader campaign context matters. This is the third major escalation against the ICC in the past month. Rubio previously addressed 65 foreign delegations warning them to defund and withdraw from the court. The administration is simultaneously running a diplomatic effort to peel away ICC member states — and is claiming success, with several countries now reportedly reconsidering their participation.
The constitutional argument Rubio keeps making is the right one. Americans fought a revolution specifically to be free from prosecution by foreign tribunals for “pretended offenses.” The Founders encoded that principle into the founding documents. The ICC — a court whose chief prosecutor is under sexual misconduct investigation, whose jurisdiction covers neither the United States nor Israel, and whose warrants carry zero legal weight in American courts — is attempting to resurrect exactly the arrangement the Declaration of Independence explicitly rejected.
Mamdani’s New York City was “actively exploring” whether the NYPD could serve an ICC warrant against Benjamin Netanyahu before the State Department intervened. The DSA platform calls for the United States to join the ICC. Abdul El-Sayed wants America to submit to international law as superseding U.S. law. These are not fringe positions — they are the stated goals of the party’s activist base.
Rubio’s response to all of it: sanctions, diplomatic pressure, and a promise of more to come.
“The ICC’s ability to target American nationals and those of other non-States Parties must end. The Trump Administration stands ready to take additional measures, if necessary, to systematically dismantle the ICC until it is incapable of threatening American sovereignty.” Brick by brick. They mean it.
Shocking 'truth' behind Prince Harry's decision to quit major role
Prince Harry should have "resigned in disgrace" from the board of a controversial African wildlife charity, a commentator says. James Walker makes the bombshell remark in Wednesday's episode of this publication's podcast, Daily Expresso.
He and the show's host, JJ Anisiobi, delve into the Duke of Sussex's dramatic decision to step down from African Parks. James, commenting on the controversy, said: "When you hear about this stuff and how long it's been going on for, you should be resigning in disgrace. [Harry] should be saying: 'I'm not touching that with a barge pole. That is a failed entity. We're going nowhere near it'.
"But no. He's still saying he's going to 'support their mission'. And again this Caroline Pearce, executive director of Survival International, goes on to say: 'His departure doesn't undo that record'.
"She alleged that African Parks was aware of the abuses for years, but it was only after Survival complained to Harry that the charity finally commissioned an investigation."
James added: "Well, she's got a point."
It emerged on Monday (August 24) that Harry was no longer a board member of the wildlife charity.
The conservation organisation has admitted that human rights abuses were committed by its rangers against members of the semi-nomadic Baka group in Congo-Brazzaville.
African Parks has said since that it has improved its safeguarding processes both in the Odzala-Kokoua National Park and institutionally.
Its admission followed an independent human rights investigation into allegations guards managed and paid by the charity had beaten, raped and tortured indigenous people in Odzala-Kokoua National Park.
Harry was president of the charity for six years before he became a member of its board of directors in 2023.
A spokesman for the Duke said he remains an active and avid supporter of African Parks. He added: "The Duke is proud of his 10 years with African Parks and fully supports the ongoing strengthening of its board.
"His commitment to conservation in Africa continues and he remains a supporter of African Parks’ mission."
Human rights organisation, Survival International, said it had been calling on Harry to step down from African Parks for years.
The group's director, Caroline Pearce, said in a statement: "It’s outrageous that for 10 years Prince Harry has served African Parks while the organisation has been responsible for abuse and violence against Indigenous people.
"His departure doesn't undo that record — African Parks itself must now be held accountable, and must abandon this model of fortress conservation for good."
Survival International said indigenous peoples know how best to manage their land and the idea outsiders know better is racist and colonial.
Iran TV Airs Sick Threat Against Barron Trump, Reports of $10M Bounty
Iranian state media aired an insane video about killing Barron Trump, along with reporting a $10 million bounty on his head ... and it's sure to get President Donald Trump's attention.
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CAUSE FOR CONCERN
Video: Iran TV Broadcasts Disturbing Threat Against Barron Trump, Reports $10M Bounty
The "Where to kill Barron Trump" clip says Barron's movements are being "fully monitored" while he's attending New York University ... and claims Barron's accounts for Xbox and Discord have been hacked.
The video goes into depth about what Barron wears ... and what his bodyguards wear. It also alleges his travel habits.
Per reports, the f-ed-up video is tied to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps ... and it's a big-time escalation in the threats coming out of Iran toward Trump as the war rages on.
The chilling video aired amid Trump ratcheting up pressure on Iran to finally crack ... his latest measure, dubbed "economic D-Day,” is meant to cripple Iran's economy.
The video might just be a BS scary tactic ... but it's still pretty freaking unnerving for the 20-year-old college student.
Chaos around Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s future as ‘six month plan’ revealed
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are just days away from relocating back to Britain with their children.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle may be relocating back to the UK in a matter of days, however, they may not actually be staying here permanently. Just last week, it was reported that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, alongside their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, will be moving back to Britain.
It was reported that the children had already been enrolled on British schools, with the exact name and location of the school not revealed. It was also reported that the family would live in a private, non-royal residence, with the location kept private for security reasons. The motive behind the move was not reported.
While many think this means the Sussex family will be back in the UK - the country they once criticised very publicly - someone close to the couple has revealed that it could actually only be temporary.
The source told The Times: “It’ll be an extended period of time — it could be six months, it could be a year, it could be more — I don’t think even they know yet.
“They might suddenly go: ‘Why don’t we try Canada for a while? Why don’t we try Australia?’ It’s one of the great things about being private individuals [that they can live where they choose].”
The family has spent the last six years living in Montecito, California (Image: Instagram / @meghan)
Harry and Meghan themselves have not released a statement on their upcoming move back to Harry’s home country.
Rumours have been swirling about why they are relocating, with some people believing it is due to Harry’s desire to be close to King Charles.
Other reports suggest that Meghan has been offered an acting role based in Britain, although there is no official confirmation.
The family are reportedly set to fly over from California before the end of August, allowing the children to settle before they start at their new school. It has been reported that the family will keep their Montecito home in America, and their Portugal holiday home. It has also been reported that the family's chickens will stay at the Montecito home, while the family's two dogs are expected to fly over to the UK with them.
