LIZ PEEK: Can Trump Make the UN Great Again despite its globalist agenda?
U.S. President to Speak at UN General Assembly Amid Calls for Reform
New York, NY – President Donald J. Trump will address the United Nations General Assembly today in New York, a move that has reignited debate over the United Nations’ effectiveness and the U.S. role in the global organization.
A recent Gallup poll finds that 73 % of Americans say the UN does a poor job of “maintaining international peace and security,” and 70 % believe it falls short in “upholding international law” and “protecting human rights.” The survey points to growing domestic skepticism toward the roughly $70 billion a year that the U.N. spends on its operations.
The poll’s findings come at a time when the U.N. has faced criticism from Washington over a string of votes that appear to run counter to U.S. interests. For instance, the General Assembly has repeatedly voted to lift the embargo on Cuba, and it has opposed measures that the U.S. and Israel consider vital for countering Palestinian terrorism. In a recent testimony before Congress, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz described the body as a “cesspool of antisemitism” and warned that the U.N. “is often hostile to the U.S.”
Reform Efforts Under Trump Administration
Trump’s administration has sought to overhaul the United Nations, a process led by Ambassador Waltz. In a congressional hearing, Waltz said the U.N. has allowed peacekeeping missions to become “cash cows” for national militaries, citing cases where peacekeepers would bring equipment, park it, never use it, and then return it to their home countries, all while being paid by the U.N. He noted that some missions can involve between 10,000 and 18,000 troops and are “quite significant” in cost.
The White House has already moved to trim the organization’s budget. Waltz’s team reportedly secured a “historic 15 % cut” to the U.N.’s regular budget, amounting to $570 million and eliminating nearly 3,000 headquarters positions. According to a Fox Digital interview, those cuts have totaled $1 billion to date and have saved U.S. taxpayers $126 million.
Waltz also is working to reduce the size of the U.N.’s staff, which numbers roughly 100,000 worldwide. He has pointed out that many staff members earn about 17 % more than comparable positions in the U.S. civil service. In addition, the administration is overhauling peacekeeping operations that have existed for “30, 50 or even 80 years,” arguing that such forces can “become an excuse to not have a political resolution.”
Financial Challenges Facing the United Nations
The United Nations has been grappling with a liquidity crisis. An Economist report noted that in early May the U.N. announced a $600 million cut—about 17 % of its $3.7 billion administrative budget—in an effort to avoid default. The cuts would also trigger a hiring freeze. Critics argue that the organization’s reliance on “deadbeat members” and restrictive budget rules make it difficult for the U.N. to manage its finances.
In the same vein, the U.S. has never been a net contributor to the U.N.’s core budget, but its veto power in the Security Council and its influence on the organization’s agenda remain significant. Trump’s appointment of Ambassador Waltz has been described by Politico as a “rare praise for a Trump appointee,” with some Democrats on Capitol Hill recognizing Waltz’s efforts to streamline the U.N.
International Reactions and Controversial Resolutions
The United Nations’ recent vote to adopt a new global map that expands the representation of Africa has drawn sharp criticism from the U.S. The U.S. was the sole country to dissent. Deputy U.S. Representative Yaryna Ferencevych described the resolution as a “barnacle” on U.N. work, arguing that it detracted from pressing issues such as international peace and security.
The organization’s focus on issues such as climate change, gender equality, and other “globalist” agendas has also been criticized for being disconnected from core security concerns. Critics point out that the U.N. has done little to influence the outcome of the Russia‑Ukraine war or to ensure the continued flow of oil through the Strait of Hormuz.
Implications for the Upcoming Secretary‑General Election
The U.N. will soon elect a new Secretary‑General to succeed António Guterres, who has served since 2017. The U.S. and other permanent Security Council members have the power to veto candidates, making the selection process highly political. Some U.N. officials have reportedly expressed unease about the “Board of Peace,” a Trump‑backed initiative intended to oversee the Israel‑Gaza conflict. They view the board as a rival peacemaking institute.
If the Security Council cannot agree on a successor, the U.N. may extend Guterres’s term for an additional year, limiting the White House’s influence over the appointment. This development could undermine the Trump administration’s “Make the UN Great Again” agenda.
Looking Ahead
President Trump’s address to the General Assembly today will likely focus on the administration’s reform agenda and its vision for a more efficient, U.S.-friendly United Nations. As the organization prepares to elect a new Secretary‑General and confront internal budgetary pressures, Washington’s stance on the U.N.’s future will remain a key point of contention in international diplomacy.