US President Trump threatens to cut funding of countries who voted against Jerusalem

WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump threatened to cut funding Wednesday to countries that vote against the United States on a motion at the United Nations condemning Washington's recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital.

"All these nations that take our money and then vote against us at the Security Council and they vote against us potentially at the Assembly," Trump said at the White House.

"They take hundreds of millions of dollars and even billions of dollars and then they vote against us. Well, we're watching those votes," he continued.

"Let them vote against us. We'll save a lot. We don't care."

Nikki Haley, Washington's UN envoy, had warned countries Tuesday that she would report back to Trump with the names of those who supported a draft resolution rejecting the US recognition.

"Nikki, that was the right message," Trump said.

Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Malki accused Washington of "threatening" member countries of the UN General Assembly ahead of Thursday's vote.