Trump Signs Executive Order Withdrawing U.S. from Key UN Bodies

 In a bold move that reshapes U.S. engagement with international organizations, former President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Tuesday, formally withdrawing Washington from several United Nations bodies. The order specifically removes the United States from the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) and the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). Additionally, it mandates a comprehensive review of the country’s involvement in the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

According to White House staff secretary Will Scharf, the decision was driven by a perceived “anti-American bias” within these UN agencies. The United States had previously served as an observer at the UNHRC after its term as a voting member ended on December 31. However, the new order effectively ends all U.S. participation in the council’s activities, including its country-specific human rights reviews and investigations into alleged rights violations.

Scharf further explained that the executive order extends beyond specific agencies, calling for a broader assessment of the United States’ financial contributions to the UN. “The review will consider the significant disparity in funding levels between the U.S. and other nations,” he stated.

Trump has repeatedly criticized what he sees as an unfair financial burden on the U.S. regarding international organizations, particularly in the context of military alliances like NATO. He reiterated this stance while signing the order, saying, “The UN has tremendous potential, but it’s not being run properly. We’re contributing disproportionately, as we always seem to be.”

The decision also aligns with Trump’s support for Israel’s stance on UNRWA. The Palestinian aid agency has been a crucial source of relief for displaced populations, particularly in Gaza. However, Israel has long accused UNRWA of fostering anti-Israel sentiment. Washington had already halted its funding to the agency in January 2024 under President Joe Biden’s administration after Israel alleged that 12 of UNRWA’s employees were involved in Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attacks. While subsequent investigations found some “neutrality-related issues,” no conclusive evidence supported Israel’s main allegations, leading many other international donors to resume their funding.

This latest series of withdrawals is not unprecedented for Trump. In his first term, he pulled the U.S. out of the Paris Climate Agreement and initiated the withdrawal process from the World Health Organization (WHO), citing mismanagement and a lack of accountability. His decision to repeat these actions in his latest tenure signals a continued push toward a more isolationist U.S. foreign policy.