Will Trump close the UN? by Somni Sengupta in the New York Times.

In the genteel, carpeted halls of the United Nations headquarters, a 20-minute walk from Trump Tower, diplomats from the world over are holding their breath about the American president-elect.

The optimists among them are expressing relief that Donald J. Trump said nothing during the campaign about dismantling the United Nations altogether — or turning its iconic tower facing the East River into condos. …

Sarah Cliffe, a former United Nations assistant secretary general …, said she expected a reprise of the tensions that erupted between the United States and the United Nations during the administration of President George W. Bush.

John R. Bolton, who was ambassador to the United Nations under Mr. Bush, once said the United Nations would be more effective without its top 10 floors, where its senior leaders have their offices. Mr. Bolton is one of Mr. Trump’s many would-be candidates for secretary of state. …

[Trump’s] own comments about the United Nations are difficult to parse. At a 2005 Senate hearing about planned renovations of the United Nations headquarters, he described himself as “a big fan” and said that “the concept of the United Nations and the fact that the United Nations is in New York is very important to me and very important to the world as far as I am concerned.” …

In March, during a campaign speech at the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, he excoriated the world body as “not a friend to freedom,” adding, “it surely isn’t a friend to Israel.” …

Mr. Trump, who has called climate change a hoax, has suggested he would withdraw the United States from the Paris accord, widely regarded as the most important United Nations achievement in years.