A group of Republican lawmakers led by Rep. Chris Smith urged Secretary of State Marco Rubio to veto the nomination of former Chilean president Michelle Bachelet as United Nations secretary general. In a letter sent on Thursday, they described her as a pro-abortion zealot unfit for the role due to her advocacy record. The United States, as a permanent Security Council member, holds veto power over the selection.
Republicans in a bicameral group, led by New Jersey Congressman Chris Smith, sent a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Thursday, calling on him to instruct U.N. Ambassador Michael Waltz to veto Michelle Bachelet's candidacy for U.N. secretary general, as first obtained by The Daily Wire. The lawmakers argued that Bachelet, who served as Chile's president from 2006 to 2010 and 2014 to 2018, as well as U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights and executive director of U.N. Women, does not meet the qualifications sought by the Trump administration. They cited her support for abortion rights, including criticism of the U.S. Supreme Court's 2022 overturning of Roe v. Wade, which she called a 'major setback' and a 'huge blow to women’s human rights.' Bachelet described abortion as 'firmly rooted in international human rights law' and at the 'core of women and girls’ autonomy.' The letter highlighted a 2020 fact sheet from her office claiming denial of abortion access could violate rights to health, privacy, and freedom from cruel treatment. Lawmakers also criticized her for praising abortion law changes in Colombia, Argentina, and Mexico, and for not labeling China's treatment of Uyghurs as genocide during a 2022 visit. In Chile, Bachelet authored a bill legalizing abortion in cases of risk to the mother's life, fatal fetal abnormalities, or rape. 'Dr. Bachelet’s resume reveals a pro-abortion zealot intent on using political authority to override state sovereignty in favor of extreme agendas,' the letter stated. President Trump withdrew the U.S. from U.N. Women in January 2026, deeming it contrary to U.S. interests. U.S. officials, including Ambassador Dorothy Shea in October 2025, have stressed the need for a secretary general focused on peace, security, accountability, and state sovereignty. The State Department did not immediately respond to requests for comment.