TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – The United States (US) staged a walkout during a United Nations (UN) Security Council meeting after France criticized Washington's recent stance on human rights, escalating diplomatic tensions between two longstanding allies over the Trump administration's policies.
The protest took place on Monday during a Security Council session on Russia's war in Ukraine. Members of the US delegation left the chamber while France's ambassador, Jérôme Bonnafont, was delivering his remarks.
The dispute followed last week's vote on the reappointment of Volker Türk as the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. The United States joined Russia, North Korea, Nicaragua, Mali, Israel, and several other countries in opposing Türk's second term, although his reappointment was ultimately approved with overwhelming support from UN member states.
BBC revealed that the diplomatic dispute intensified after France's UN mission criticized Washington on social media following the vote. The mission wrote that the United States "used to be a beacon of human rights" but now stood alongside authoritarian governments such as Russia and North Korea.
The post prompted a sharp response from US Ambassador Mike Waltz, who accused France of supporting a human rights chief who had, in his view, unfairly criticized democratic countries while overlooking abuses committed by authoritarian governments.
During Monday's Security Council session, US Deputy Ambassador Dan Negrea said the American delegation would continue similar protests until France "renounces their condescending and disrespectful rhetoric."
Negrea also defended Washington's position, insisting that the United States remains "the beacon of liberty for the world."
France, however, maintained its support for the UN human rights system. Speaking during the meeting, Ambassador Bonnafont reaffirmed France's commitment to the principles of the United Nations Charter, including international peace, security, and the protection of human rights.
The disagreement reflects broader tensions between the Trump administration and the United Nations. Since returning to office, President Donald Trump has reduced US funding for several UN agencies and withdrawn from multiple UN bodies while repeatedly criticizing the organization.
The Guardian reported that the dispute also comes amid mounting criticism of the Trump administration's recent trade policy. Last week, Washington imposed sweeping tariffs ranging from 10 percent to 12.5 percent on imports from more than 80 countries, citing allegations of forced labor as part of its justification.
The tariff policy has drawn criticism from lawmakers and rights advocates, who argue that forced labor concerns should not be used as a political tool. Democratic Representative Richard Neal, the ranking member of the House Ways and Means Committee, said forced labor is a serious issue that "should never be cheapened into a pretext for a tariff policy built on dubious legal theories and personal grievances."
The Trump administration has also recently challenged the credibility of the UN human rights system. During last week's vote, US Ambassador Jeff Bartos warned that Washington would reassess its engagement, participation, and funding for UN institutions following Türk's reappointment.
Despite the dispute, the United Nations (UN) declined to comment directly on the US walkout. Deputy UN spokesperson Farhan Haq said the organization expects all member states to respect decisions made by the General Assembly.
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