Trump Withdraws U.S. from UN Human Rights Council, Cuts UNRWA Funding
Is the U.S. quitting the so-called U.S.-led global order?
In a major restructuring of U.S. foreign policy priorities and what appears to be a significant blow to the already declining liberal international order, President Trump signed an executive order on February 4 withdrawing the United States from the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) and cutting future funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA). This anticipated move, framed as a rejection of what Trump calls systemic bias and the propagation of anti-Semitism within the UN, has drawn strong reactions from Democrats across the political aisle, as well as from international partners.
Trump initially withdrew from the UNHRC in 2018 during his first term, but the U.S. rejoined in 2021 under former President Biden. This time, Trump is calling for a comprehensive review of the U.S. relationship with the United Nations, with a specific focus on key agencies like UNESCO.
Why Is the U.S. Withdrawing?
Trump’s order cites multiple reasons for the withdrawal, including what he calls an anti-American shift within UN institutions and the UNHRC’s chronically inordinate anti-Israel sentiment. He also points to what he sees as unfair financial burdens