On Tuesday, US President Donald Trump signed an executive order withdrawing the United States from several United Nations bodies, including the Human Rights Council (UNHRC) and the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA).
The order also called for a broader review of US funding and participation in other UN agencies, such as UNESCO.
White House staff secretary Will Scharf criticized what he described as “anti-American bias” within these UN agencies, justifying the US withdrawal. As part of the UNHRC, the US had observer status after ending its latest term on December 31. Trump’s executive order effectively terminates all US involvement in the council’s activities, including its reviews of human rights records and allegations of abuses.
The executive order also calls for a review of American financial contributions to the UN, highlighting disparities in funding levels between member countries. Trump, who has previously criticized the US’s disproportionate financial contributions to multilateral organizations, reiterated that the UN should be better run and funded more equally by all member states.
UNRWA, which provides vital aid to millions of Palestinian refugees, has been at the center of controversy. The US suspended funding for the agency in 2024, following allegations by Israel of the agency spreading anti-Israel material and links to Hamas. Although investigations into the claims did not confirm Israel’s accusations, other nations that had suspended their support later resumed funding.
This move is part of a broader pattern of withdrawal from international agreements and organizations during Trump’s presidency, echoing similar actions in his first term, such as the US’s departure from the Paris climate accord and its plans to exit the World Health Organization.
AFP
