'There's no indication': Trump jokes ICC isn't 'after me' as Rubio attacks the court

WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump lightened a serious Cabinet discussion on Friday, July 31, by joking there was "no indication" the International Criminal Court (ICC) was coming after him as Secretary of State Marco Rubio delivered a forceful attack on the tribunal.

While Rubio argued the ICC posed a long-term threat to American troops and political leaders, Trump interrupted with a humorous aside that briefly shifted the tone before Rubio returned to outlining the administration's campaign against the court.

Trump jokes during Marco Rubio's ICC warning

Speaking during a Cabinet meeting at Camp David, Rubio called the ICC "an illegitimate international organization," arguing it had undermined its own credibility by claiming authority over people from countries that are not members.

"They make themselves illegitimate because they claim that even if you're not a member of that court, they can come after you," Rubio said. "What that literally means in the future is that American servicemen, political leaders, and others could find themselves under indictment by this International Criminal Court."

Rubio also took aim at former special counsel Jack Smith, telling the room, "If you want to know a little bit about it, Jack Smith used to work there."

As Rubio continued describing the court's reach, Trump interjected with a joke.

"Boy, there's no information that they're after me. Just so you know, just keep talking about it," Trump said.

"I'm saying that means that he's not trying to defend me. He is trying to defend Bibi and various other people. But there are many people that shouldn't be looked at that way. But there is no indication that I'm one of them at this moment," he added.

Marco Rubio says US troops face greatest risk

Rubio quickly returned to his central argument, saying American service members were the people most vulnerable to future ICC action.

"And I actually think the people who are in biggest danger in our system are servicemen, people in uniform," he said. "They'll try to grab for the rest of their lives. Will not be able to travel anywhere in the world with their families because they can be arrested on one of these."

He added, "Imagine you're a soldier and you fought in a war, and 20 years later they try to come grab you. So this is a big problem."

Rubio said the administration had tried to persuade the court to change course but was unsuccessful.

"We've begun an effort to really try to bring that court to heel," he said, adding that "five countries have already quit the ICC" since the administration began its push two weeks earlier and that more departures were expected.

Marco Rubio touts diplomacy and Venezuela response

Rubio then broadened his update, highlighting what he described as a growing international coalition against far-left violent extremism, diplomatic progress involving Israel and Lebanon, and a humanitarian response to the earthquake in Venezuela.

He closed by praising Trump's response to the disaster, recalling that within an hour of the earthquake the president instructed officials to assist.

"Make sure we go in there and help these people recover from this," Rubio said Trump told him, adding that the Department of War's response "was phenomenal."