France's mission to the United Nations in Geneva launched a strongly worded social media attack on the United States after a UN vote to grant High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk a further four-year term. France accused Washington of abandoning its role as a defender of human rights, prompting a sharp rebuttal from US officials, including former national security adviser Mike Waltz. The exchange highlights growing friction between Washington and European allies over the direction of the UN's human rights body under the Trump administration.

The row followed a contentious reappointment vote for Türk, during which US envoy Jeff Bartos accused the UN human rights chief of consistently condemning democracies while failing to confront abuses by authoritarian regimes, saying he had led the UN human rights system "to its deathbed". France's mission responded with public criticism of the US stance, which drew a swift and forceful reply from Waltz defending Washington's position. The dispute adds to wider tensions between the US and European partners over the UN's approach to human rights issues.