UN diplomat: Security Council to meet Trump at White House

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The U.N. Security Council will visit Washington later this month and meet President Donald Trump at the White House, a council diplomat said Wednesday.

During the April 24 visit the 15 members of the U.N.'s most powerful body will also meet congressional leaders, the diplomat said, speaking on condition of anonymity because the trip hasn't been officially announced.

Council members have also asked for a briefing by White House envoy Jason Greenblatt, who is charged with trying to restart Israeli-Palestinian peace talks that collapsed over two years ago, the diplomat said.

Two issues certain to be on the agenda during the meetings, in addition to global hotspots including Syria and North Korea, are reports that Trump wants major cuts to the U.N. budget and reforms at the United Nations.

U.S. Ambassador Nikki Haley, who holds the rotating Security Council presidency this month, has been outspoken in demanding reforms at the United Nations, which she has called "stale."

The administration is doing a review of all 16 U.N. peacekeeping missions, which have an annual budget of nearly $8 billion, seeking to cut costs and improve their effectiveness.

The diplomat said Haley, who is also a member of Trump's Cabinet, arranged the council visit.