New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has walked back his earlier promise to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu when he visits the city in September. In a video posted on X Tuesday, Mamdani explained that his office simply doesn't have the legal authority to enforce the International Criminal Court's arrest warrant.

"It is clear that we do not have the independent legal authority to enforce this warrant. The federal government, however, does," Mamdani said. "And I call on them to join the ICC and execute this warrant."

Mamdani didn't soften his stance on Netanyahu, though. He called the Israeli leader a "war criminal" and said his administration explored every possible legal avenue for an arrest. "Benjamin Netanyahu is not welcome in New York City, nor is any other war criminal at large," he added.

This reversal comes after President Donald Trump made his position crystal clear on Truth Social: "Benjamin Netanyahu will not be arrested, in any way, shape, or form, while in the United States of America."

CNN's chief legal analyst Laura Coates had already laid out why Mamdani's threat was toothless. Three reasons: the U.S. doesn't recognize ICC warrants, only the federal government can handle foreign affairs, and the U.N. Headquarters Agreement gives Netanyahu diplomatic immunity during his visit. So even if Mamdani wanted to, the law just isn't on his side.

Mamdani still insists Netanyahu should face justice, but for now, that's a job for Washington—not City Hall.