US delegation walks out of UN Security Council meeting during France's remarks

The U.S. delegation walked out of a UN Security Council meeting on Monday in protest after France drew a comparison between the American vote on the human rights commissioner and the positions of authoritarian states, marking a rare diplomatic clash between longtime allies at the international forum.

The clash centers on a vote that took place Friday on whether to extend a second term for Volker Turk, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. The United States joined North Korea and Russia in voting against the extension. According to the BBC, France's UN mission posted on social media: "The US used to be a beacon of human rights. Not anymore."

Turk's reappointment passed with broad international support. Per the official record, 144 states voted in favor of his second term, 10 voted against, and 13 abstained. The human rights commissioner has criticized Russia's war in Ukraine and Israel's military conduct in Gaza, according to BBC reporting.

U.S. Ambassador Mike Waltz responded by accusing France of voting for a human rights chief who had been "lecturing" democratic countries while "cozying up to the world's worst oppressors," per the BBC account. The U.S. team's departure occurred while French Ambassador Jerome Bonnafont was speaking during an emergency Security Council meeting on Russia's war in Ukraine.

France defended its position in remarks attributed to Bonnafont, describing Turk as "a voice of conscience" who demonstrated "rigor and impartiality" during his first term. Bonnafont's characterization directly contradicts the U.S. assessment of the commissioner's record.

The Trump administration has signaled a broader confrontational stance toward UN institutions. According to the BBC, the administration has cut funding for UN agencies and withdrawn from dozens of UN entities. At the Security Council, U.S. Ambassador Jeff Bartos stated there would be "consequences" to the assembly which "tolerates procedural overreach, backroom deals, and the misuse of UN posts," and announced the U.S. would "immediately reassess our engagement, participation, and funding." U.S. Ambassador Dan Negrea said the delegation would continue similar protests until France "renounces their condescending and disrespectful rhetoric," per BBC reporting.

The UN's position on the outcome remained formal. Deputy UN Spokesperson Farhan Haq declined to comment on the U.S. walkout but stated the UN expected all member states to respect the decision on Turk's reappointment, according to the BBC.