Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) has praised President Trump’s recent address at the United Nations, commending his criticism of what Smith described as the organization’s major shortcomings. Smith, who has served over 20 years in congressional oversight roles related to the U.N., said, “President Trump did an outstanding job of calling the United Nations to account on its most grievous offenses and obvious failings, including combating antisemitism.”
Smith highlighted Trump’s remarks about European nations and NATO allies’ continued purchase of Russian oil during Russia’s conflict with Ukraine. According to Smith, “President Trump—whose personal interventions have led to peaceful resolutions of conflicts around the world—rightly called out European nations’, NATO allies’, and other global powers’ acquiescence to Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine through the continued purchase of Russian oil. He is right to call for full compliance with sanctions and new tools for combatting the threats posed by Russia, as well as the urgent need to resolve this conflict, whose horrible death toll continues to explode.”
Smith also criticized the U.N.’s structure and influence. “The President has forthrightly stated an aspect of the U.N. problem that gets far too little attention: The United Nations as an institution is not, in practice, accountable to its member nations. Rather, it is dominated by a network of international NGOs that represent only elite interests and a woke agenda,” he said.
He added that efforts under previous administrations to reduce funding for certain U.N. agencies were challenging but credited Trump with effective action: “Under the Biden and Obama administrations, our efforts to defund the worst U.N. agencies were always uphill battles–President Trump has been remarkably effective at withdrawing our country from U.N. agencies run by radical NGOs and countries with jihadist agendas.”
Smith cited his own experience leading congressional hearings into antisemitism within U.N. agencies: “As has been shown through oversight and testimony at Congressional hearings I chaired, the U.N. has been exposed as a largely useless and feckless institution, which relentlessly pushes antisemitism on a global scale.” He further stated, “In the last Congress alone, I chaired four congressional hearings documenting the rampant and deeply rooted antisemitism of the U.N.’s various agencies – the U.N. is, in fact, a chief ‘legitimizer’ and funder of the global campaign to apply double standards against Israel in an attempt to delegitimize and demonize it.” Smith authored legislation establishing both an office within the State Department focused on monitoring antisemitism and ambassadorial-level leadership for this issue abroad.
Addressing migration issues at the southern border, Smith noted Trump’s criticism of both rogue NGOs and United Nations involvement: “Trump particularly called out the large role played by the U.N. and rogue NGOs in the destabilizing migration and illegal immigration crises at the U.S. southern border, which has led to 300,000 missing unaccompanied minors lost in the United States due to the failure of the Biden-Harris Administration,” said Smith.
On energy policy, Smith supported Trump’s opposition to offshore wind projects promoted by international bodies: “President Trump again hits the nail on the head by calling out the U.N. for its fruitless push for so-called ‘green energy,’ especially offshore wind… It is absolutely absurd to replace proven baseload energy sources with intermittent and insufficient energy, such as offshore wind—putting the nation’s economy and national security at risk. As President Trump wisely urged, we must immediately abandon the scam of offshore wind.”
Smith also addressed concerns about Iran’s nuclear ambitions: “Furthermore, The United Nations has failed to address threat posed by bad actors including Iran… President Trump’s decisive actions… have made world a safer place no thanks to spineless UN actions…”
He concluded by supporting Trump’s stance regarding recognition of Palestinian statehood following recent violence involving Hamas: “I applaud President Trump’s direct condemnation of countries that have recognized a Palestinian state… As president noted focus… must remain immediate unconditional release all hostages by Hamas—not rewarding actions terrorist organization with statehood.”
Chris Smith currently represents New Jersey’s 4th district in Congress after replacing Frank Thompson in 1981 (http://chrissmith.house.gov). He was born in Rahway in 1953; he resides in Manchester Township; he graduated from The College of New Jersey with a Bachelor’s degree.
