What did the Trump administration claim to be against classifying slave trafficking as a heinous crime at the UN?

The president of Ghana, John Dramani Mahama, speaks at the UN General Assembly during a session to vote on a resolution that considers the trafficking of African slaves as humanity’s worst crime, on March 25, 2026. Jeenah Moon/ Reuters “We do not recognize the right to reparation for injustices that were not illegal when they occurred.” This was the speech of US deputy ambassador, Dan Negrea, before the vote at the United Nations (UN) that recognized the transatlantic trafficking of Africans as one of the most serious crimes against humanity, this Wednesday (25). 📱Download the g1 app to see news in real time and for free See the videos that are trending on g1 The resolution was approved by 123 countries. Only three — the United States, Israel and Argentina — voted against. Another 52, including the United Kingdom, Portugal and Spain, abstained. The Trump administration official also called the proposal ‘cynical’, arguing that it would use historical injustices to justify reallocating modern resources to ‘people and nations that have little relationship to the historical victims’. Both the European Union and the United States expressed concern that the resolution could imply a hierarchy between crimes against humanity, treating some as more serious than others. “The United States also strongly opposes the resolution’s attempt to classify crimes against humanity in any kind of hierarchy,” he said. “The assertion that some crimes against humanity are less serious than others objectively diminishes the suffering of countless victims and survivors of other atrocities throughout history,” said the representative of Donald Trump’s government. Israel followed the same line of argument as the Americans, citing similar concerns. Argentina did not present detailed justifications, but the position is not surprising — since since Javier Milei’s inauguration the country has frequently aligned itself with Washington and Tel Aviv in UN votes. The resolution took place in a special session of the UN assembly to mark the International Day of Remembrance for the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade, every March 25. US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in an image from this Monday (13) Evelyn Hockstein/Pool TPX/Reuters The proposal The proposal, presented by Ghana, is not binding, but seeks to expand international recognition of the consequences of transatlantic slavery and open the way for debates on reparations. According to the Ghanaian government, the effects of the capture and trafficking of at least 12.5 million Africans between the 15th and 19th centuries still persist, especially in racial inequalities. UN Secretary-General António Guterres told the UN General Assembly that “much bolder action” is needed by more states to confront historic injustices. The approved text encourages Member States to discuss measures such as formal apologies, return of historical artifacts and possible financial compensation. For authorities in the African country, the initiative represents a step towards accountability for historical injustices. Howard University law professor Justin Hansford told the Reuters news agency that the resolution represents the UN’s biggest step forward in recognizing transatlantic slavery as a crime against humanity and calling for reparations. On the other hand, despite the proposal, the Ghanaian government has been criticized for advocating justice for past injustices on the international stage, while simultaneously pushing for stricter anti-LGBT laws in its own country.

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