First on Fox: President Trump He sees “great promise” in the United Nations, according to his candidate for the position of ambassador to the United Nations, Elise Stefanik, who said that she would achieve “reform” of the organization.
She added: “In discussing this nomination with President Trump, the President told me that he sees great promise in the United Nations if it focuses on its founding mission of international peace and security. President Trump has long called for peace, not new wars.” she will say, according to excerpts of her opening statement for Tuesday's confirmation hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, which were obtained by Fox News Digital.
She will pledge to support Israel – which faces chronic criticism The war in Gaza – And work to ensure that the agency uses US tax dollars to advance US interests.
“At a time when the world faces crisis after crisis, with continued hostage-holding, including Americans held captive by Hamas, to national security challenges ranging from China, Russia, North Korea and Iran, it has never been more important for the United States to lead with strength and moral clarity.” Stefanik intends to say.
Trump's nominee for US ambassador to the United Nations will say the president sees “great promise” in the organization. (Andrew Harnick/Getty Images)
“As a member of Congress, I also deeply understand that we must be good stewards of American taxpayer dollars. The United States is the largest contributor to the United Nations by far. Our tax dollars should not be complicit in supporting entities that run counter to the United States. interests, anti-Semitism, or involvement in fraud, corruption or terrorism.”
“We must invest in programs that strengthen our national security and deliver results. To increase the effectiveness of UN programs, we must drive reform. If confirmed, I will be the first UN ambassador in more than two decades to come directly From Congress -I have a deep respect and understanding of the oversight role and allocations of the legislative authority. I look forward to using my strong relationships in the House and Senate to achieve much-needed reforms.”
After Tuesday's hearing, where Stefanik will be questioned about her plans to represent the United States at the United Nations, the Foreign Relations Committee will vote on her confirmation before it heads to a full vote in the Senate.
Stefanik, who currently serves as chairman of the House Republican Party Conference, is expected to confirm his role at the United Nations. Senator John Fetterman, a Democrat from Pennsylvania, has already done so He said he would vote for her Both are strong supporters of Israel. She has served on the Intelligence and Armed Services committees, but rose to fame for her work on the other side of the table last year when she questioned university presidents and their policies surrounding the pro-Gaza protests during Education Committee hearings.
The United Nations Ambassador is A A position at the cabinet levelWhich means Stefanik will meet regularly with the president to share updates and suggestions, if confirmed.
Both Trump and Stefanik have criticized the United Nations, and Trump cut funding for some UN agencies and programs during his first term.
Stefanik, who currently serves as House Republican Conference Chairman, is expected to travel to confirmation in a role representing the United States at the United Nations. (Jakub Purzycki/Noor Photo via Getty Images)
Both Trump and Stefanik have criticized the United Nations, and Trump cut funding for some UN agencies and programs during his first term. (AP Photo/Eduardo Munoz Alvarez)
Founded with the goal of promoting world peace, development, and respect for human rights after World War II, the United Nations relies on the United States for about a third of its budget. President Biden Increasing US financial contributions to the United Nations and its sister agencies, rising from $11.6 billion in 2020 to $18.1 billion in 2022.
That year the United States provided nearly three times as much as the next largest contributors, Germany, with $6.8 billion, and Japan, with $2.7 billion.
This amount of funding gives the new administration room to maneuver to withhold funds from the United Nations if its global interests do not align with those of the United States, an idea believed by some Republicans. I've already paid for it.
Trump will be in office when International body The organization will elect its next Secretary-General in 2026, and the United States will have veto power over any nominee.
The United Nations relies in particular on the United States for global aid programs.
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In 2022, it provided half of the total contributions to the World Food Programme, and about a third of the total contributions to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Refugees For Palestinian refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), and the International Organization for Migration.
Critics have warned that China has infiltrated the agency, with the Chinese Communist Party doubling the number of its citizens working at the UN to nearly 15,000 from 2009 to 2021.
