EXCLUSIVE: U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz is demanding comprehensive changes at the global organization, making the battle against antisemitism his primary focus as the Trump administration seeks widespread reforms throughout the institution.
During an exclusive televised discussion, Waltz contended that tackling antisemitism ought to form a fundamental component of any restructuring of the U.N., in conjunction with a general shift back toward what he characterized as the body’s fundamental purpose of maintaining peace and security.
Waltz stated, “The United Nations possesses a deplorable track record regarding antisemitism. First and foremost, it serves as a breeding ground for antisemitism in numerous respects.” He added, “This administration is resolved to combat it.”
He portrayed the matter as pressing and unprecedented, connecting the surge in worldwide antisemitism and the consequences of the October 7 Hamas terror assaults to what he insisted must become a revitalized dedication within global organizations.
Waltz declared, “We must honor the pledge of never again.” He continued, “As we witness around the globe… particularly following October 7, we must uphold that vow.”
Waltz pointed to and survivor testimony as crucial instruments for fighting against denial and historical distortion, asserting that learning must lie at the heart of any U.N. reaction.
He explained, “This concerns education. It involves pushing back against these absurd rejections of the Holocaust.” He emphasized, “But above all, while survivors are still with us, we must listen to them and learn their individual narratives.”
He further suggested that U.N. platforms should prioritize the voices of survivors over political rhetoric.
Waltz advised, “My suggestion to the U.N. is to move diplomats and politicians aside and simply allow survivors to speak, because their accounts are powerful, heartbreaking, require amplification and documentation, and must never be disputed.”
The ambassador’s comments coincide with the administration’s demand for more extensive organizational changes at the United Nations, encompassing modifications to its handling of development assistance, humanitarian activities, and governance.
Waltz indicated that Washington desires a more streamlined entity concentrated on preventing conflicts and maintaining peace, while reducing dependence on conventional assistance models.
He stated, “What I envision, and I believe the president envisions, is a far more targeted U.N. that returns to fundamentals—advancing global peace and security and imposing peace through its peacekeeping troops when violence erupts.”
This drive for reform occurs amid persistent condemnation from American authorities and monitoring organizations regarding how within the U.N. structure and apprehensions about antisemitism associated with some U.N.-linked entities.
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) has encountered in recent times. Documentation from education oversight groups has revealed material in UNRWA-connected classrooms that undermines Israel’s legitimacy or contains antisemitic motifs.
Journalistic inquiries focus on the agency, with accusations concerning personnel connections to militant groups prompting funding suspensions and internal investigations.
A U.N.-commissioned independent assessment recognized difficulties with impartiality and suggested enhanced supervision and screening processes.
Expanding beyond UNRWA, detractors have highlighted systemic structural tendencies throughout the U.N. Israel continues to be the sole nation given a permanent slot on the U.N. Human Rights Council agenda, requiring debate during each meeting.
At the , Israel has regularly been targeted by more nation-focused resolutions than any other country during numerous yearly gatherings.
Consecutive American governments have characterized that
U.N. representatives dismiss accusations of systemic antisemitism, contending that such examination mirrors the magnitude and length of the Israeli-Palestinian dispute and humanitarian issues, while citing ongoing improvements within agencies like UNRWA.
Waltz emphasized that addressing antisemitism needs to stay at the forefront as the U.N. readies for administrative transitions and discussions about its forthcoming path. He positioned the fight against antisemitism within this wider reform initiative, together with additional policy objectives and upcoming leadership selections for the global organization.
Waltz concluded, “Therefore, these represent merely a few elements beyond… tackling antisemitism… achieving… within the U.N. moving forward that we aim to accomplish during our tenure.”