U.S. President Donald Trump warned allies and others Wednesday they could lose their foreign aid if they vote in favor of a United Nations General Assembly resolution on Thursday slamming his recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.
The warning came during a news conference with journalists at the White House in advance of the emergency special UNGA session called at the request of Arab and Muslim-majority nations.
“They take hundreds of millions of dollars and even billions of dollars, and then they vote against us,” Trump said, according to Reuters. “Well, we’re watching those votes. Let them vote against us. We’ll save a lot. We don’t care.”
U.S. Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley likewise warned select American allies and others in a letter she sent on Wednesday, “To be clear, we are not asking that other countries move their embassies to Jerusalem . . . but simply asking that you acknowledge the historical friendship, partnership, and support we have extended and respect our decision about our own embassy… The president will be watching this vote carefully and has requested I report back on those who voted against us.”