U.N. General Assembly Rebukes Trump's Jerusalem Action

Since World War II, the United States has been the leader of the free world. It had strong allies, and nations of all sizes looked to the U.S. for direction and help. Sadly, that is no longer true.

Donald Trump has shown the world that the United States can no longer be trusted to keep its word and abide by agreements it has entered into (TPP, Paris Accords, Iran Agreement, NAFTA). By violating these agreements, Trump has angered even our most reliable allies. And he is making this country a pariah among nations -- a nation that cannot be trusted to do what is best on the world stage.

This was never more clear than in Trump's decision to move the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem. The move made the Mid-East a more volatile place, threatening the peace, and making it clear to the world that the United States cannot act as an impartial party to bring a solution to the Israeli/Palestinian conflict.

Recently, the United Nations General Assembly voted on a resolution to condemn the United States Jerusalem action. The United States had vetoed such a resolution in the Security Council, but the General Assembly gives all nations a vote and none a veto.

Using the only tool in the Trump administration diplomatic pouch, the United States tried to threaten the nations of the world into voting against. U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley to the nations before the vote:

"The United States will remember this day in which it was singled out for attack in the General Assembly for the very act of exercising our right as a sovereign nation." 

"We will remember it when we are called upon to once again make the world's largest contribution to the United Nations. And we will remember it when so many countries come calling on us, as they so often do, to pay even more and to use our influence for their benefit."

That threat didn't have the desired effect. Only eight nations (Israel, Honduras, Guatemala, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, Palau, and Togo) voted with the United States against the resolution. Another 35 refused to cast a vote. But the overwhelming number of nations voted for the resolution condemning the United States -- 128 nations, including all of our best allies (United Kingdom, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Saudi Arabia, Germany, India, Ireland, Japan, Italy, France, Sweden, Switzerland, New Zealand, Netherlands, Norway, etc.).

The resolution can't force the United States to change its position, but it does make it very clear that the world is not going to blindly follow Trump down a road to disaster. Trump is making the world a more dangerous place for everyone -- and the nations of the world know that.

The era of U.S. leadership is over. That is not good for the U.S. or the world.