ROME – The popularity of World Food Programme Executive Cindy McCain among staff has plummeted as staff accuse the maverick Republican party supporter and personal friend of President Biden of insensitively disregarding UN values by what critics say is her supporting Israel openly in the conflict in Gaza, a stance she has defended as loyalty to the legacy of her late husband.

 “No one has ever seen an Executive Director (of WFP) become so unpopular so quickly,” said a senior executive at the Rome-based humanitarian agency, adding that the criticism for her attending a Halifax prize ceremony awarded to the “people of Israel” in Canada while allegedly failing to condemn the death of UN staff in Israeli bombardments in Israel in the wake of the Oct. 7 Hamas terrorist compounded staff unhappiness after Ms McCain presided over sweeping cuts in staff and consultancy positions at the agency.

 “See this in the light of her push to slim down HQ,” said the executive, speaking to the Italian Insider on condition he not be named.

 Video clips have circulated among WFP employees of Ms McCain exploding during a tense TEAMS video link session from Jordan with tearful WFP staff from Gaza who accused her of not forcefully enough making efforts to get aid into Gaza.

 “There are plenty of old hands who could offer her the right advice rather than that bunch of newbies,” said the executive, “but she just doesn’t listen.”

 “If her admirable but unshakeable commitment to her husband’s legacy prevents her from adhering to the UN values she has signed up to in the Code of Conduct, there is a serious conflict of interest which may render her continued service untenable,” he said.

 “She should think, have better advisers, and listen. She’s tone deaf. I’ll bet the folks around her got their arses kicked for letting her get run over like that.”

 The controversy has led to speculation that Ms McCain, an opponent of Donald Trumo might curtail her mandate to return to Arizona to take up the cudgels on behalf of Biden again in the presidential election.

 “It might give another country a shot at the job,” said the executive. “Either the Europeans, Brits or even Colonials – CANZ.”

 jp