Europe

UN rights chief 'watching the US very closely' under Trump

Associated Press
Published | Updated

U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Jordan's Zeid Ra'ad al Hussein speaks to the media during a news conference at the European headquarters of the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, Monday, May 1, 2017. (Salvatore Di Nolfi/Keystone via AP) (The Associated Press)

U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Jordan's Zeid Ra'ad al Hussein speaks to the media during a news conference at the European headquarters of the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, Monday, May 1, 2017. (Salvatore Di Nolfi/Keystone via AP) (The Associated Press)

The United Nations human rights chief says his office is "watching the United States very closely" under President Donald Trump.

U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra'ad al-Hussein warned last year that Trump's election could be dangerous for the world.

Speaking to reporters in Geneva on Monday, Zeid said he'd noticed a "change in some of the rhetoric" since Trump assumed office and expressed hope that the president's worrisome campaign trail rhetoric on issues like torture would "dissipate."

Zeid, a Jordanian prince, says his office is waiting to see the possible effects from the Trump administration's plan to cut funding for the U.S. State Department and international organizations.

In October, Zeid said Trump would be "dangerous from an international point of view" if elected.