The United States representative walked out of a United Nations meeting in Geneva to protest France's criticism of the U.S. stance on the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights.
U.S. Ambassador Dan Negrea stated that the U.S. would not listen to what he called France's "politicized drivel" until Paris renounced its "condescending and disrespectful rhetoric." The U.S. has consistently supported France through various conflicts, Negrea said, and the U.S. "remains the beacon of liberty for the world."
The diplomatic dispute arose after the French Mission in Geneva criticized the United States for opposing a second term for Volker Türk, the current U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, who has held the position since 2022.
On Friday, Türk received broad support from member states, with 144 votes in favor of his reappointment. The United States was among 10 countries that voted against, while 13 abstained.
The French Mission posted on social media that the U.S. was no longer a beacon of human rights and stood "isolated" with countries including North Korea, Nicaragua, Mali, and Russia. The post included the hashtag "America Alone."