Trump administration again boycotts UN human rights review

What the report says

The Trump administration skipped a United Nations review of the United States’ human rights record in Geneva, prompting the UN Human Rights Council to postpone the examination until January. Al Jazeera reported that US officials did not appear at the session on Tuesday, making this the second consecutive year Washington has boycotted its own Universal Periodic Review. The process is normally required of all 193 UN member states every four to five years.

According to the article, the White House’s absence drew criticism from rights advocates, who say the administration’s actions on civil liberties and immigration have raised serious concern. The US withdrew from the council in February 2025, after Donald Trump began his second presidential term, arguing that the body was biased against Israel. A State Department spokesperson said participation would lend legitimacy to the council, which the administration rejects as anti-American.

The review had been expected to cover issues including abortion access, the death penalty, migration and racial discrimination, based on UN documents and submissions from nongovernmental groups. Al Jazeera also reported that nearly 200 submissions were sent by US and international NGOs. A rights advocate from the American Civil Liberties Union and a former UN official said the boycott could weaken the credibility of the review system, especially if a major power refuses to take part or explain its absence.