US President Donald Trump didn’t pull any punches during his speech at the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Tuesday, September 23. He slammed the UN on everything from ongoing wars to mass immigration and climate change, grabbing global headlines once again.
Trump boasted about his quick action on international conflicts, saying, “In just under seven months, I’ve ended seven ‘unendable’ wars.” He added that it shouldn’t have fallen to him—the UN should have handled it. To top it off, his speech faced early hiccups: the teleprompter glitched for the first few minutes of his over-one-hour address, and the elevator to the hall even stalled midway. Trump joked about it more as a gripe than a laugh, relieved that he and First Lady Melania Trump stayed upright.
Trump’s beef with the UN isn’t new. Throughout his two terms as US President, he’s pulled the United States out of key UN organizations and slashed their funding. The US now owes the world body nearly $3 billion in unpaid dues, with reports estimating that Washington covers about 22% of the UN’s 2025 budget.
This year, Trump doubled down. In February, he signed an order reaffirming the 2018 decision to exit the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) and the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA). That move cut annual funding by $20 million for UNHRC and a whopping $364 million for UNRWA. The order called out these groups for straying from their missions, acting against US interests, attacking allies, and even spreading anti-Semitism. It spotlighted UNHRC, UNESCO, and UNRWA for closer review.
In July, the US announced its departure from UNESCO, effective December 2026, citing anti-Israel bias and a lack of reforms. That’ll save about $80 million a year. Trump also pointed to the 2020 withdrawal from the World Health Organization (WHO) over its handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. A January order this year criticized WHO for demanding too much from the US compared to others—like China, which pays far less despite its huge population. This led to another $130 million annual cut.
Back in 2023, the US pumped $13 billion into the UN system, mostly through voluntary contributions. But by early this year, payments stopped completely, building up that $3 billion debt. Experts predict the UN could face a $500 million shortfall in 2026, forcing 20% job cuts in peacekeeping, humanitarian aid, and health programs.
That said, Trump’s moves fit a longer pattern in US-UN relations. America has a track record of joining and leaving these bodies based on changing foreign policy and domestic needs. Withdrawals often stem from claims of political bias, misalignment with US goals, or unfair burden-sharing among nations.
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