US pressures Palestinian UN envoy to drop General Assembly VP bid, threatens visa revocation
The Trump administration has threatened to revoke visas for the Palestinian delegation to the United Nations if Palestinian Ambassador Riyad Mansour does not withdraw his candidacy for vice president of the UN General Assembly, according to an internal State Department cable obtained by Reuters.
The Wednesday cable instructed US diplomats in Jerusalem to tell Mansour his candidacy “fuels tensions” and could undermine Trump’s Gaza peace plan, warning there would be consequences if it continued.
“To be clear, we will hold the PA responsible if the Palestinian delegation does not withdraw its VPGA candidacy,” the cable said, referring to the Palestinian Authority, which exercises limited self-rule in the region of Judea and Samaria.
The cable also referenced the State Department’s September 2025 decision to waive visa sanctions for Palestinian officials assigned to the UN mission in New York, warning “it would be unfortunate to have to revisit any available options.”
According to the cable, Mansour already withdrew his candidacy for General Assembly president after US lobbying in February, but if elected vice president, he could still preside over sessions.
“Therefore, there is still a risk that the Palestinians could preside over GA sessions during UNGA81 unless they withdraw from the race,” the cable said, referring to the UN General Assembly’s 81st annual high-level week in September.
“In a worst-case scenario, the next PGA might assist the Palestinians in presiding over high-profile sessions related to the Middle East or during UNGA81 high-level week,” it added.
The election for General Assembly president and 16 vice presidents is scheduled for June 2.
The Palestinian Authority represents the Palestinian people at the United Nations, where the delegation is officially known as the State of Palestine. It is an observer state and does not have voting rights in the 193-member General Assembly.
