U.S. President Trump’s Vision for the United Nations

By Michelle Nichols

Overview

U.S. President Donald Trump sees significant potential in the United Nations, emphasizing the need for the organization to adhere to its foundational goals of international peace and security. This sentiment was expressed by Elise Stefanik, his nominee for U.N. ambassador, during her testimony before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

Confirmation Process

Stefanik, a House of Representatives member, is expected to be confirmed as the U.S. ambassador to the U.N. for Trump’s second term, which began on Monday. She stated, “If confirmed, I will work to ensure that our mission to the United Nations serves the interests of the American people and represents President Trump’s America First peace-through-strength foreign policy.”

Reform and Policy Focus

She committed to reforming U.N. agencies, addressing what the U.S. perceives as anti-Israel bias, and countering China’s growing influence globally. Stefanik mentioned, “We need to have strong American leadership working with our allies to push back on this,” referring to China’s long-term strategy at the U.N.

Foreign Aid Pause

The Senate’s inquiry comes after Trump announced a 90-day halt on foreign development assistance, raising concerns regarding its impact—particularly on contributions to institutions like UNICEF and the U.N. World Food Program. Senator Chris Coons expressed worries about how the order might affect partnerships vital to U.S. interests.

Assessment of Aid Programs

Stefanik acknowledged the order’s broad scope and emphasized the necessity of evaluating all foreign aid programs to determine their alignment with American interests. She insisted that U.S. funding should make America stronger, safer, and more prosperous.

Current U.S. Contributions

U.S. foreign assistance is a small fraction of the federal budget, with Israel and Ukraine being major recipients. The U.S. obligated about $70.3 billion in foreign aid for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2022. The exact financial implications of Trump’s executive order remain unclear.

Prior Presidency Actions

Trump’s directive reflects his previous stance on reducing U.S. diplomacy and aid budgets, which faced congressional resistance. Moreover, on his first day back in office, he withdrew the U.S. from the World Health Organization and the Paris climate accord.

Financial Obligations to the U.N.

Once confirmed, Stefanik will follow Linda Thomas-Greenfield’s tenure as U.N. ambassador. The U.S. holds a significant debt to the U.N., being its largest contributor, responsible for 22% of the core U.N. budget and 27% of the peacekeeping budget. The current U.S. debt to the U.N. stands at $2.8 billion, potentially impacting its voting rights in the General Assembly.