Trump administration pressures Palestinian UN envoy to drop General Assembly vice presidency bid
The Trump administration is pressuring the Palestinian UN envoy to withdraw his candidacy for the vice presidency of the UN General Assembly. A State Department cable indicated that failure to comply could result in visa revocations for the Palestinian delegation. The election for the General Assembly's leadership is set for June 2, with concerns that a Palestinian vice president could influence discussions on the Middle East.
- ▪The Trump administration threatened to revoke the visas of the Palestinian delegation if they do not withdraw their vice presidency bid.
- ▪The U.S. believes that the Palestinian ambassador's candidacy could undermine peace efforts in Gaza.
- ▪The election for the UN General Assembly leadership is scheduled for June 2.
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Trump administration pressures Palestinian UN envoy to drop General Assembly vice presidency bidSign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inboxPublished May 21, 2026, 10:24 AMUpdated May 21, 2026, 10:24 AMWASHINGTON, May 20 - President Donald Trump's administration threatened to revoke the visas of the Palestinian delegation to the United Nations if the Palestinian ambassador refuses to end his candidacy for the vice presidency of the U.N. General Assembly, according to an internal State Department cable seen by Reuters.In a cable dated Wednesday, U.S. diplomats in its embassy in Jerusalem are instructed to deliver the message that Palestinian ambassador to the U.N.
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