In a highly anticipated address to the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly, former President Donald Trump launched a broad critique of global institutions, using his platform to promote a nationalist agenda and air a familiar litany of grievances. His speech, which significantly exceeded the allotted time, was met with sharp commentary from various reporters and observers, highlighting its contentious nature.
Trump questioned the very purpose of the United Nations, asserting that while he had resolved international conflicts, the organization had remained ineffective. He made several dubious claims regarding immigration and green energy, portraying them as forces detrimental to the ‘free world.’ This included a direct accusation that environmentalists sought to ‘kill all the cows’ and a dismissal of climate change as the ‘greatest con job ever perpetrated on the world,’ despite overwhelming scientific consensus on rising global temperatures. His remarks on clean air in the U.S. were noted to contradict his administration’s efforts to dismantle environmental regulations.
The former president also veered into foreign policy, criticizing close NATO allies for recognizing a Palestinian state and imposing tariffs on countries like Brazil, citing ‘political persecution’ against his ally, former President Jair Bolsonaro. He lauded Germany’s return to nuclear and fossil fuels, declaring ‘All green is all bankrupt.’ On immigration, Trump falsely claimed that nations were intentionally directing migrants to the U.S. and even alleged the U.N. was funding illegal border crossings, a claim refuted by the humanitarian aid efforts of U.N. agencies worldwide.
Amidst ongoing conflicts in Gaza, Sudan, and Ukraine, Trump’s speech largely ignored major global challenges such as China’s economic influence or arms control with Russia, focusing instead on themes of national sovereignty and military strength. He reiterated his demand for the return of hostages from Gaza but offered no new strategies for resolving the humanitarian crisis or addressing allegations of genocide against Israel in the region.
Earlier in the day, U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres delivered a stark warning about the ‘dangerously chaotic state of the world,’ emphasizing that the organization’s foundational principles ‘are under siege.’ Guterres, who is navigating a period of significant global challenges and a severe budget crisis for the U.N., called for renewed unity and diplomacy. He specifically highlighted the catastrophic suffering in Gaza, where the U.N. has experienced its highest number of staff casualties in any conflict. His speech underscored the critical need for multilateralism, human rights, and humanitarian aid.
The stark contrast between Trump’s ‘America First’ rhetoric and Guterres’s call for global cooperation set a challenging tone for the General Assembly’s proceedings, as world leaders grappled with a complex and fractured international landscape.