Nations are meeting to drum up trillions to combat poverty — but the US isn’t going
Associated PressJUN 30
Spain: UN Development Summit Opens Without US Participation
Above: U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres held a press conference at the 4th International Conference on Financing for Development in Seville, Spain, on June 30, 2025. Image copyright: Burak Akbulut/Anadolu/Getty Images
The Spin
Pro-establishment narrative
The U.S. withdrawal from this summit reflects responsible fiscal stewardship and protection of American sovereignty. The proposed measures would interfere with the governance of international financial institutions and impose unrealistic lending requirements that could destabilize global markets. America remains committed to development but won't accept U.N. overreach into tax policy and debt architecture.
Establishment-critical narrative
Rich nations are abandoning their moral duty to help the world's poorest while global inequality reaches crisis levels. The U.S. pullout represents a catastrophic betrayal of international cooperation when millions face hunger and disease. These aid cuts will cost lives and undermine decades of progress in health and education.