Marco Rubio's Stunning Hypocrisy: US Begs UN for Help After Trump Trashed It

Trump spent months undermining the UN, but now his Secretary of State is desperately calling on the world body to stop Iran. The contradiction is impossible to ignore.

The irony is almost too thick to cut. Just months after Donald Trump questioned the “purpose” of the United Nations, his administration is now desperately pleading with the very institution he dismissed for help solving the Strait of Hormuz crisis.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio made the stunning appeal on Tuesday, urging the Security Council to pressure Iran “to stop blowing up ships, remove the mines and allow humanitarian relief” through one of the world’s most critical shipping lanes.

But here’s where it gets awkward: Trump has been systematically dismantling faith in the UN since taking office in January 2025. During his September UN General Assembly speech, he openly asked “What’s the purpose of the United Nations?” He bragged about ending “seven unendable wars” without UN assistance, suggesting the body was basically useless. In January, Trump even hinted his newly created “Board of Peace” might replace the UN entirely.

Now? The administration is betting everything on the UN to contain Iran.

The Stakes Are Astronomical

One-fifth of the world’s oil and natural gas flows through the Strait of Hormuz. With the strait now partially closed due to Iranian attacks and mine placements, global oil prices have skyrocketed and economists are sounding alarms about potential economic collapse.

The US, working with Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait, and Qatar, has drafted a Security Council resolution demanding Iran cease attacks, remove mines, and establish a humanitarian corridor. If passed, it could trigger sanctions and potentially authorize military force.

But There’s a Problem

Rubio himself admitted uncertainty about whether the resolution could survive a veto from China and Russia, who have already killed previous versions. “I don’t know if it will avoid a veto or not,” he said.

The administration made “slight adjustments” to the language to avoid authorizing force explicitly, though it still operates under Chapter VII of the UN Charter, which theoretically permits military intervention.

Washington hopes to circulate the final draft by Friday and hold a vote early next week. But with Beijing and Moscow still considering competing texts, this could collapse spectacularly, forcing Trump to face the exact nightmare scenario he’s been dismissing for months: a UN that can’t get anything done.

The irony? By undermining the UN, Trump may have weakened the very institution he now desperately needs.