US diplomats staged a walkout of a UN meeting over French dignitaries’ criticisms of the Trump administration’s human rights record.
Which is, you know, completely accurate considering the kidnap of president Maduro, strikes against civilian vessels, and unlawful imprisonment (and murder) under ICE, to name but a few.
‘Forced labour’ tariffs
The ridiculous walkout stunt, which took place during a security council meeting on 27 July, was part of an ongoing feud between the two countries’ delegations.
Several days beforehand, on 23 July, the Trump administration announced massive tariffs on more than 80 countries. In effect, these reinstated the previous tariffs struck down by the US Supreme Court.
Seemingly in place of a rationale, US trade representative Jamieson Greer accused the countries, including the UK and the whole EU, of using forced labour. Greer praised US efforts in policing its forced-labour ban, and stated that:
It’s well past time for our trading partners to do the same.
International Twitter beef
The very next day, the Trump administration set its sights on the UN’s human rights record. In particular, the US criticised the reinstatement of human rights chief Volker Türk for a second term.
.@AmbUNReform: The UN human rights system has been losing credibility for decades.
Volker Türk led it to its deathbed.
Today’s vote kicked the bucket. pic.twitter.com/9yBB516mAp
— U.S. Mission to the UN (@USUN) July 24, 2026
Of course, the US delegation’s dislike for Türk is unsurprising — he’s been a vocal critic of America’s recent human rights record. This included a March statement to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva:
We have enjoyed bipartisan support from the U.S. on human rights over many decades … I am now deeply worried by the fundamental shift in direction that is taking place domestically and internationally.
Policies intended to protect people from discrimination are now labelled as discriminatory…Divisive rhetoric is being used to distort, deceive and polarize. This is generating fear and anxiety among many,
The UN’s legitimacy deficit
In response to the US criticism of the UN’s rights record and its chief, the French Geneva Mission took to social media. On 25 July, it posted:
The US used to be a beacon of human rights. Not anymore. Today, it stands alongside North Korea, Nicaragua, Mali & Russia, isolated. And the world no longer listens to it.#AmericaAlone https://t.co/GLNMsYEH9n pic.twitter.com/UTVvljTMeO
— France ONU Genève
(@FranceONUGeneve) July 25, 2026
That reference to “North Korea, Nicaragua, Mali & Russia” named four of the nine countries which joined the US in voting against Türk’s re-appointment. Meanwhile, 144 countries voted in favour, with 13 abstentions.
Continuing the Twitter feud, Mike Waltz — the US ambassador to the UN — posted:
It is disappointing – though not surprising – that this is how France deflects on its shameful vote to coddle some of the worst human rights abusers.
France voted for someone who has been lecturing, free, sovereign democracies like the United States, the UK, and Israel, while… https://t.co/m6zxE95d5l
— Ambassador Mike Waltz (@USAmbUN) July 26, 2026
Professionalism? Never heard of her
Then, during Monday’s security council meeting, ostensibly to discuss Russia’s war on Ukraine, the US wasted time by choosing to criticise France in person. US deputy ambassador Dan Negrea called his country a “beacon of liberty for the world”, adding:
As such, we will not be affording them the benefit of listening to their politicized drivel until they renounce their condescending and disrespectful rhetoric and behave in a manner commensurate with their seat on this council.
Because bringing your Twitter beef to an unrelated UN meeting and then storming out just screams ‘fitting behaviour for a security council seat’.
But then, that really is typical of the Trump administration all over, isn’t it? These overgrown children have become used to being able to bribe, bully and threaten anyone in the US so that they get their own way.
Then, as soon as they’re confronted with a modicum of pushback outside of their safe American bubble, they simply have no comeback but to splutter and bolt for the exit.
This entire debacle would almost be laughable, were it not that these same pampered, snivelling wastes of space control one of the most powerful militaries on Earth.
Featured image via the Canary
By Grace
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