The General Assembly of the United Nations will have a vote tomorrow concerning Trump recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.
Trump’s decision earlier this month to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and begin the process of moving the U.S. Embassy there from Tel Aviv has proved controversial, sparking violence and protests in the Middle East, as well as condemnation and criticism from U.S. allies and partners. Jerusalem’s status remains a contested point in peace negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians, with each side seeking to claim the city as its capital in any two-state solution.
In making his announcement, the president pointedly did not rule out the possibility of a divided Jerusalem serving as the capital for both Israel and Palestine in a two-state solution, nor did he take a position on any other contested boundaries or issues. Trump’s announcement also did not shift the U.S. position on control of Muslim and Jewish holy sites in Jerusalem.
Trump made a big show of telling the United Nations he won't pay them if they vote against the U.S.
“For all of these nations that take our money and then they vote against us at the Security Council or they vote against us, potentially, at the Assembly, they take hundreds of millions of dollars and even billions of dollars and then they vote against us,” Trump said at a Cabinet meeting on Wednesday.
“Well, we’re watching those votes,” he continued. “Let them vote against us. We’ll save a lot. We don’t care. But this isn’t like it used to be where they could vote against you and then you pay them hundreds of millions of dollars and nobody knows what they’re doing.”
Fearless Leader also had U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley write a letter to the U.N. Telling them how much he doesn't like people who vote against him.
Included in Trump’s warning was praise for the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley, who wrote in a letter to other member states that Trump and the U.S. government would take those votes “personally.”
“As you know, the General Assembly is considering a resolution about President Trump’s recent decision on Jerusalem,” Haley wrote in letter to member states that was provided to POLITICO by a U.N. source. “As you consider your vote, I want you to know that the President and U.S. take this vote personally. The President will be watching this vote carefully and has requested I report back on those countries who voted against us. We will take note of each and every vote on this issue.”