BY: Ahmed Fathi
With President Donald Trump starting his second term, his administration is likely to redefine the idea of American exceptionalism and change the US-UN relationship. Emphasizing national sovereignty and a critical review of multilateral institutions is fundamental in this agenda.
First American Exceptionalism: Sovereignty-First
American exceptionalism has historically been connected with the U.S. leading and supporting of international institutions to advance world stability and democracy. But President Trump's vision stresses a sovereignty-first strategy, giving unilateral action top priority over multilateral cooperation. This point of view questions conventional ideas of U.S. global leadership and the effectiveness of international organizations such as the UN.
Declaring in his inaugural speech, "We will no longer surrender this country or its people to the false song of globalism," President Trump underlined this change. This rhetoric marks a break from the pledges of past administrations to global cooperation.
Reevaluating the United Nations
The Trump administration's posture toward the UN reflects his general mistrust of multilateral institutions. President Trump attacked the UN during his first term for what he saw as disproportionate financial loads on the United States and bureaucratic inefficiencies. His second term has only sharpened this criticism.
Funding Cuts and Financial Contributions
The financial commitment the United States pays to the UN is one of the primary concerns of the current administration. Funding different initiatives and peacekeeping operations, the United States is the biggest contributor to the UN budget. President Trump has counterargued, though, that this degree of support is unfair and unsustainable.
An executive order suspending all foreign aid for ninety days issued in January 2025 caused UN agencies to start reducing their worldwide aid operations. This action follows a larger trend of reevaluating and, occasionally, cutting financing for UN-affiliated initiatives that the administration feels don't fit American interests.
Calls for Reform
Beyond only financial issues, the Trump administration has demanded major UN reforms. These suggested reforms seek to improve transparency, lower bureaucracy, and guarantee that the activities of the company more closely match US foreign policy goals.
One senior government official said, "The United Nations must be held accountable. We are dedicated to making sure the UN runs in line with the values and interests of its members and that American taxpayer money is used wisely."
Implications for Global Governance
The way the US administration approaches global governance and the direction multilateralism will take has great ramifications. The United States runs the danger of isolating itself from conventional allies and handing influence to other global powers ready to participate in multilateral frameworks by giving national sovereignty top priority and expressing doubt toward international institutions.
Critics contend that this approach undercuts the organization's efforts required to handle worldwide issues including security concerns, pandemics, and climate change. A retreat from multilateralism, they argue, might result in a more fractured and less stable world order.
The Way Forward
The relationship between the United States and the UN stays dubious as President Trump keeps developing his vision of American exceptionalism. Although the administration wants to redefine its responsibility inside the UN and assert national interests, the long-term effects of this strategy are yet to be completely appreciated.
Watching closely, the global community wonders whether this marks a temporary policy change or a long-lasting change in American interaction with the world. The responses to these questions will help to define world institutions' efficacy and future direction of international relations.