A recent undercover video is shedding light on how the United Nations views the presidency of Donald Trump, with one legal affairs employee expressing concern that the institution may not survive a second term under Trump. This recording, conducted by the Louder with Crowder podcast, highlights Trump’s tough stance against U.N. corruption, anti-Americanism, and antisemitism, with actions such as stopping funding for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). Trump also withdrew from various U.N. bodies, including the Human Rights Council, World Health Organization, UNESCO, and the Paris climate agreement, citing concerns about anti-Israel bias and the need for reform.
Despite Trump’s criticisms and actions against several U.N. agencies, President Joe Biden, upon taking office, opted to rejoin these bodies, including the Paris climate deal. However, Biden suspended funds for UNRWA after evidence emerged of its staff members’ involvement in a Hamas terrorist attack in Israel. Former Trump U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley cautioned against rejoining the Human Rights Council, which she believes is influenced by totalitarian regimes like China and Cuba. Haley emphasized the importance of maintaining distance from such organizations for the sake of upholding human rights.
Looking ahead, a senior Republican Congressional staffer working on international affairs anticipates a return to many of Trump’s policies, including withdrawing the U.S. from organizations perceived as anti-American and antisemitic within the U.N. The staffer pointed to a need for American diplomats to push back against international policies that undermine U.S. interests, rather than implementing them, as was perceived during the Biden administration. The change in leadership promises a shift in the U.S.’s approach to engaging with the United Nations.
Amid the controversy surrounding the recorded comments from the U.N. legal affairs employee, the organization’s spokesman, Stéphane Dujarric, emphasized that the staffer’s remarks were made in a private setting without his knowledge and did not reflect the official position of the United Nations. However, critics like Anne Bayefsky, president of Human Rights Voices, view the incident as indicative of the U.N.’s departure from its original purpose and its alignment with one side of the American political spectrum. Bayefsky highlighted the U.N.’s affinity for Democratic administrations and its opposition to actions taken by Trump to protect American interests.
As the United Nations prepares to host world leaders for the annual General Assembly debate later this month, the focus remains on how the institution will navigate its relationship with the United States under a new presidential administration. With diverging approaches to key issues such as human rights, climate change, and Israeli-Palestinian relations, the U.N. faces ongoing scrutiny and debate over its role in addressing global challenges. The recording of the U.N. official’s comments serves as a reminder of the tensions between the U.S. and the U.N. under different leadership styles and policy priorities.
