In a global first, UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese loses her X verification after US sanctions for anti-Israel bias, pro-Hamas rhetoric, and targeting American companies.
For the first time in history, a United Nations official has been stripped of her blue check verification on X (formerly Twitter) — a dramatic fall from digital grace for UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese.
The move comes after UN Watch sent a July 31 letter to X CEO Elon Musk, urging him to revoke Albanese’s verified status in light of sweeping US sanctions imposed last month.
“This is a major achievement,” declared Hillel Neuer, executive director of UN Watch. “Verification gave her greater visibility, algorithmic amplification, and a false appearance of credibility. Removing it sends a clear message: those who support terrorists and attack US allies will face consequences — title or no title.”
On July 9, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced sanctions under President Trump’s Executive Order 14203, targeting Albanese for her role in aiding the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) efforts to investigate and prosecute Americans and Israelis without their consent — a move the US deems a gross violation of sovereignty.
Rubio accused Albanese of:
- Spewing antisemitism and claiming the “Jewish lobby” controls the US.
- Backing Hamas and denying Israel’s right to self-defense — even after the October 7 massacre.
- Refusing to call for the release of the 251 hostages kidnapped by Hamas, including 9-month-old Kfir Bibas.
- Advocating for the release of a Gaza hospital director suspected of being a Hamas leader.
- Attempting to shift blame for October 7 from Hamas terrorists to Israel in her book J’Accuse.
- Sending threatening letters to major US companies, accusing them of war crimes and urging the ICC to prosecute them.
Rubio slammed these acts as “political and economic warfare”, vowing the US will “take whatever actions necessary” to stop illegitimate ICC overreach and defend American and Israeli sovereignty.
The blue check removal is more than symbolic — it strips Albanese of algorithmic boosts, enhanced reach, and perceived credibility, signaling that even high-ranking UN figures can be publicly discredited when they cross the line.
