The US delegation walked out of the UN Security Council chamber on Monday while France’s envoy was speaking. The departure occurred during remarks by French Ambassador Jerome Bonnafont.
Deputy US Ambassador Dan Negrea accused France of using condescending and disrespectful rhetoric. He stated that the United States would not listen to such politicized drivel.
Negrea also accused France of feigning moral outrage. The walkout followed a post on X by the French mission in Geneva, which stated that the US used to be a beacon of human rights but is not anymore.
Dispute Over UN Human Rights Chief
The incident took place against the backdrop of the General Assembly’s approval of Volker Turk for a new term as UN high commissioner for human rights. The vote saw 144 nations in favor and 13 abstentions.
The US was among only 10 countries that voted against Turk’s appointment, alongside Israel, Russia, and Argentina. France had criticized the Trump administration’s human rights record during the proceedings.
Broader Diplomatic Tensions
The walkout reflects strained relations between US President Donald Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron. Wider US-Europe tensions over NATO, troop deployments, and Greenland have contributed to the friction.
Trump previously complained that Europeans did not help the US during the Iran war. In response to the current dispute, Negrea said the United States has stood by France in every conflict where its freedom was imperilled.