(MENAFN- Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)) WASHINGTON, Dec. 20 (KUNA) -- President Donald Trump on Wednesday escalated threats against members of the UN General Assembly who vote against the US decision to formally recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.
During a Cabinet meeting at the White House, Trump praised UN Ambassador Nikki Haley, who this week said the US would be "taking names" of those countries at the UN who cast votes in opposition to the US decision.
Trump's comments implied that such countries would be punished financially.
"I like the message that Nikki sent yesterday at the United Nations for all of these nations that take our money and then they vote against us at the Security Council, or they vote against us potentially at the assembly," Trump said during the Cabinet meeting.
"They take hundreds of millions of dollars and even billions of dollars, and then they vote against us," the President said.
"Well, we're watching those votes. Let them vote against us, we'll save a lot. We don't care." "But this isn't like it used to be where they could vote against you, and then you pay them hundreds of millions of dollars, and nobody knows what they're doing," Trump said. "So, Nikki, that was the right message that you and I agreed to be sent yesterday." "The people that live here, our great citizens that love this country, they're tired of this country being taken advantage of, and we're not going to be taken advantage of any longer," he added.
On Monday, in a losing 14-1 vote, the US vetoed a UN Security Council resolution against Trump's decision on Jerusalem.
Trump announced Dec. 6 that the US formally recognizes Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and will begin the process of moving the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem in a break with decades of US policy.
Reacting on Tuesday, Haley said the vote was "an insult" that would "not be forgotten." "It's one more example of the UN doing more harm than good in addressing the Israeli-Palestinian conflict," she said on Twitter.
Haley also wrote a threatening letter to members of the UN General Assembly in which she said the US "will be taking names" during a scheduled Thursday UN vote on a resolution against the US decision on Jerusalem. That vote is expected to pass with an overwhelming majority.
"As you know, the General Assembly is considering a resolution about President Trump's recent decision on Jerusalem. As you consider your vote, I encourage you to know the President and the US take this vote personally," Haley said in the letter. (end) rm.ibi
MENAFN2012201700710000ID1096257802
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.