The United States is a founding and influential member of the United Nations (UN).
It is one of the five permanent members (P5) on the UN Security Council giving the US a veto on UN Security Council proposals.
It is the biggest single contributor to the UN budget, providing around one fifth of its total.
It hosts the UN Headquarters in New York.
Although the US is an important member of the UN, the relationship between the two has been strained. In most years the US has failed to pay its contribution in full.
Trump and the UN
During Trump’s presidency, between 2016 and 2020, Trump was often critical of the UN especially over the size of the US financial contribution. Trump also criticised the World Health Organisation (WHO) which he claimed was controlled by China.
Biden and the UN
President Biden (2020-24) is more supportive of the United Nations and sees the UN as a forum to globally promote democracy and human rights. In 2021, the US rejoined the WHO.
