Rep. Elise Stefanik has pledged to push President Donald Trump’s “America First” stance if confirmed as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, with a focus on reviewing US funding critical for UN operations and its many agencies around the world.
The largest single contributor to the UN, the US pays just over one-fifth of the organization’s regular budget. Stefanik emphasized that tax dollars should not be used to prop up entities counter to American interests, citing concerns about antisemitism, fraud, corruption, or terrorism.
She also stressed the need for reform in the UN, where several resolutions have passed condemning Israel over its war in Gaza. Stefanik stated that the organization has not lived up to its founding mission after World War II to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war.
The US currently owes $1.5 billion to the UN regular budget and $1.3 billion to the separate UN peacekeeping budget. Stefanik defended her proposal, saying she is open to reviewing agencies to ensure that taxpayer dollars are going to effective entities like UNICEF and the World Food Program.
She also expressed strong support for Israel, calling Iran “the most significant threat to world peace.” Stefanik’s views on global issues, including wars in Gaza and Ukraine, as well as the Iranian nuclear program, have sparked concerns among lawmakers.
Sen. Jim Risch criticized the UN, calling for a reevaluation of every agency to determine if its actions benefit America. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen emphasized the importance of the US presence at the UN, warning that China and other adversaries could fill the vacuum if it takes a step back.
Stefanik’s confirmation hearing has raised questions about her lack of foreign policy experience, but she has demonstrated a strong commitment to Trump’s policies and a desire to implement an “America First” agenda.
Source: https://apnews.com/article/stefanik-united-nations-ambassador-confirmation-hearing-0a4dd959bdd9fde2dec921742e32166f