US Walks Out of UN Security Council Session Over French Human Rights Criticism

The United States delegation staged a walkout from a UN Security Council session in protest against France's recent criticism of its human rights record. The U.S. representative, Dan Negrea, left the meeting during the speech of the French ambassador to the UN, Jérôme Bonnafont.

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We will not grant them the privilege of listening to their politicized nonsense until they renounce their condescending and disrespectful rhetoric and behave in a manner befitting their position on this Council.

The dispute arose after a message posted by the French UN delegation in Geneva accused the U.S. of ceasing to be a human rights reference point. This accusation stemmed from the U.S. voting alongside North Korea, Nicaragua, Mali, and Russia against renewing the mandate of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.

Upon returning to the session, Negrea accused France of "feigning moral indignation" and attempting to "lecture the rest." He stated that the U.S. would not listen to "politicized nonsense" until France abandoned its "condescending and disrespectful rhetoric" and behaved appropriately for its position on the Council.

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The world no longer listens to you.

Negrea asserted that the U.S. remains a "beacon of freedom for the world," recalling France's past support for the U.S. in conflicts threatening its liberties. In response, Ambassador Bonnafont highlighted France's role in recent U.S. history, referencing the Statue of Liberty, a gift from France, and affirmed his country's commitment to working for peace and human rights globally, particularly in Ukraine.

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The Statue of Liberty, not far from here, was lit up.