President Donald Trump says he could solve the United Nations’ money problems “very easily” if the organization would just ask him for help. He claims he only needs to make a few phone calls to fix the crisis. Senior U.N. officials have recently warned that the organization is dangerously close to running out of cash. This crisis could force the U.N. to scale back its global operations. Some reports even suggest that the New York headquarters might have to shut down entirely.
Speaking recently from Florida, Trump compared the current U.N. situation to his previous work with NATO member dues. According to Politico, he believes he can force member nations to pay their unpaid commitments. “If they came to Trump and told him, I’d get everybody to pay up, just like I got NATO to pay up,” he said. He added that the solution would be almost instant. “All I have to do is call these countries… they would send checks within minutes.”
However, when asked about the billions of dollars the United States itself owes the U.N., the president dodged the question. He claimed he was completely unaware that the U.S. was behind on its payments to the U.N. This is hard to believe when the organization is facing such a public and severe cash crisis.
Trump’s bold claims don’t address America’s own unpaid U.N. dues
What’s truly striking is Trump’s protective attitude toward the U.N. He’s attacked the institution in the past, often calling it ineffective. Despite that history, he quickly dismissed the idea of the U.N. leaving the country. “I don’t think it’s appropriate,” he said. “The U.N. is not leaving New York, and it’s not leaving the United States, because the U.N. has tremendous potential.”
This tone is a major reversal, especially considering Trump’s “America First” approach. His administration has pulled back from many global institutions. Just in the last month, he captured Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro, threatened to strike Iran, and even proposed taking Greenland from Danish control. The president has also escalated tensions with Canada through tariff threats.
— WORLD NEWS (@_MAGA_NEWS_) February 2, 2026
JUST IN: In a bombshell announcement, UN Secretary-General António Guterres has issued a dire warning: "the United Nations is on the brink of total collapse" if the United States, which contributes approximately $2.2 billion to the regular budget alone, does not give to the UN. pic.twitter.com/CsRMbgLjLj
Trump signed an executive order in January withdrawing the U.S. from 66 organizations, agencies, and commissions. That list includes the U.N.’s population agency and the major U.N. treaty on climate negotiations. Last year, his administration cut hundreds of millions of dollars in foreign aid and dismantled USAID. He has consistently framed international groups as ways for other countries to take advantage of the United States. Meanwhile, allies like Speaker Mike Johnson continue defending Trump’s record.
#WolffBite: Trump proposed to increase funding of the War Department by $600 billion next year, but the US has not paid its debts to the UN (now $2.2 billion). Trump's priorities for war and for peace differ.https://t.co/mu3oRl4vjP
— Richard D. Wolff (@profwolff) February 2, 2026
While he insisted that the organization has failed to live up to its promise, he framed it as truly necessary for the long term. He’s acknowledging that even he won’t solve every global conflict forever. “When I’m no longer around to settle wars, the U.N. can,” he said. He concluded by emphasizing its deep value, saying, “It has tremendous potential. Tremendous.”
