January 16, 2026—In one phrase and many acts, President Donald Trump made international law obsolete. In an exclusive interview with the New York Times, U.S. President Donald Trump said out loud what many of his actions have shown: International law is no longer relevant.
NYT: “Do you see any checks on your power on the world stage? Is there anything that could stop if you wanted to?”
Trump: “Yeah, there’s one thing: my own morality, my own mind. It’s the only thing that can stop me. And that’s very good. I don’t need international law. I’m not looking to hurt people.”
NYT: “Do you feel your administration needs to abide by international law on the global stage?”
Trump: “Yeah, I do. I do, but it depends what your definition of international law is.”
The interview continued with questions about Greenland—a country Trump insists the United States should own. He said ownership of the foreign territory is “psychologically needed for success.”
For more, see the NYT story.
International Law includes rules from treaties, conventions, declarations, agreements, and customs. It involves the UN Security Council, the International Court of Justice, also called the “World Court,” the World Trade Organization (WTO), and the World Bank. For more information, see our International Law Resources page.
