Five key points on how a long-respected US human rights report became a ‘cudgel’ under Trump

Critics have said a vital state department report on human rights has become a tool to reward friendly nations under Trump’s presidency. Photograph: REX/Shutterstock

In May, Donald Trump took to the stage at a business conference in Saudi Arabia’s capital, promising that the US would no longer chastise other governments over human rights issues or lecture them on “how to live and how to govern your own affairs”.

With the release this week of the US government’s annual report on human rights worldwide, the president has – in part – followed though on that pledge.