A recent Gallup poll reveals that Israelis and Americans are among the countries with the most negative views of the United Nations' performance. Israelis hold the lowest approval rating at just 9 per cent. This survey comes at a difficult time for the UN, as it tries to manage humanitarian crises and conflicts while dealing with global divisions and a U.S. president, Donald Trump, who has often criticized the organization's efforts. The Israeli government has accused the UN of being biased against Israel, especially during its military actions in Gaza. In May, Israeli foreign secretary Eli Cohen described the UN as a "politicized and corrupt organization that has abandoned its founding principles and systematically targets Israel as its primary mission." This week, the UN held its general assembly meeting in New York, with speeches from Trump, Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and Iran’s president Masoud Pezeshkian among others. UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres warned that "violence, displacement and settlement expansion by Israel in the Occupied West Bank are bulldozing the path to peace and raising the spectre of ethnic cleansing." Americans are also critical of the UN, with the majority expressing dissatisfaction with its performance in five of its central objectives: humanitarian assistance (53%), supporting development (63%), protecting human rights (70%), upholding international law (70%), and maintaining peace and security (73%). Trump has frequently criticized the UN's effectiveness as a global peacemaker, questioning its purpose during his 2025 speech at the UN General Assembly and stating that it is not living up to its potential. For the past two decades, Americans have largely supported the existence of the UN but do not believe it is effectively handling the problems it faces. The last time a majority of Americans approved of the UN's performance was in the period following the 9/11 attacks. The UN has many global roles beyond peacekeeping, but even in those areas, Americans are more critical than approving of its performance. In contrast, the UN enjoys a more positive global perception, with a median approval rating of 50 per cent and a net approval score of +24. Southeast Asia and sub-Saharan Africa showed the strongest regional support, with approval exceeding disapproval by 51 and 43 points, respectively. In 67 countries, the UN enjoys more than 50 per cent approval of its performance, compared to just nine countries where more than 50 per cent disapprove. The next UN secretary-general, who will replace Antonio Guterres when his term ends in December 2026, will inherit an organization with a considerable base of public goodwill but also sharp differences in how it is viewed around the world. These divisions extend into the security council itself. In some regions, the challenge may be less about overcoming negative views than about building familiarity and understanding. Where opinions are less settled, demonstrating what the UN does and what it delivers may be especially important.