On February 4, U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order to withdraw the country from the UN Human Rights Council and to cease funding for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). This was reported by Reuters.
Trump stated that the UN has "great potential," but it needs to undergo reform. He confirmed the decision to halt U.S. cooperation with the UN Human Rights Council and continued the freeze on UNRWA funding. Additionally, the president instructed a review of UNESCO's activities.
Conflicts that the UN addresses must be resolved, or we should receive genuine assistance in solving them. However, it seems we are not getting that. This should be the primary goal of the UN, Trump remarked.
He also pointed out that he does not intend to completely stop funding the organization, but complained about the excessive financial burden on the U.S. Washington is the largest donor to the UN, contributing 22% of its core budget and 27% of peacekeeping operation expenses. According to the UN, the U.S. owes the organization $2.8 billion, of which $1.5 billion is attributed to the core budget.
During his first presidential term (2017–2021), Trump had already halted funding for UNRWA. The White House reminded that in 2018, the U.S. first withdrew from the Human Rights Council, as that organization passed more resolutions against Israel than against Syria, Iran, and North Korea combined.
Moreover, Trump’s executive order mandates Secretary of State Marco Rubio to review international organizations, treaties, and conventions that, in Washington's view, "promote radical or anti-American sentiments." This was reported by POLITICO.