President Trump Challenges UN Role in Contentious General Assembly Address
President Donald Trump delivered a highly anticipated speech at the United Nations General Assembly’s 80th anniversary session, using the platform to launch a sharp critique of the international body and its perceived failures. With ongoing wars in Gaza, Sudan, and Ukraine underscoring the fragile state of global peace, Trump asserted that the UN has largely been ineffective in resolving conflicts, claiming personal success where the organization had not.
Early in his address, Trump’s teleprompter malfunctioned, forcing him to read from prepared remarks. He immediately questioned the UN’s fundamental purpose, stating, "What is the purpose of the United Nations?" He dismissed the organization’s efforts as merely writing "strongly worded letters" and uttering "empty words," contrasting this with his own claims of resolving international disputes such as those between Israel and Iran, Cambodia and Thailand, and Armenia and Azerbaijan. He remarked with visible frustration, "Sadly, in all cases, the United Nations did not even try to help in any of them." He also alluded to past grievances, noting, "All I got from the United Nations was an escalator on the way up that stopped right in the middle."
Beyond his criticism of the UN, Trump took aim at domestic political opponents, including his predecessor, Joseph R. Biden, and global allies who have recognized a Palestinian state. He reiterated his demand for the release of hostages in Gaza, urging allies to "unite around a message to Hamas: ‘Release the hostages now’" without acknowledging calls for a viable Palestinian state from his closest NATO partners. He sidestepped the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and Israel’s actions in Gaza City, which have drawn accusations of genocide.
The President also addressed other critical global issues:
- Immigration: Trump informed gathered representatives that "Your countries are being ruined" because of immigration, singling out El Salvador for its leader Nayib Bukele’s willingness to detain deported individuals in a prison system criticized for holding non-criminals.
- Nuclear Weapons & Biological Warfare: He declared containing nuclear weapons his "No. 1 priority," announcing a new effort to enforce the biological weapons convention and advocating for "a cessation of the development of nuclear weapons." This statement comes despite the U.S. itself developing new variants of older weapons. He claimed U.S. attacks "completely obliterated" Iran’s nuclear stockpiles, though the actual status of these stockpiles remains unclear.
- Russia and Ukraine: Trump blamed his predecessor for the conflict in Ukraine and accused China and India of funding the war through their continued purchases of Russian oil. He threatened tariffs on Russia, but only if Europe ceased all its oil and gas purchases, expressing surprise that European nations were still buying Russian petroleum products after three and a half years of war.
Earlier in the day, UN Secretary-General António Guterres opened the General Assembly with a stark warning about a "dangerously chaotic state of the world," where the UN’s founding principles "are under siege." He spoke of "reckless disruption and relentless human suffering," citing the ongoing conflicts in Gaza, Ukraine, and Sudan. Guterres emphasized diplomacy and unity as pathways to stability, specifically condemning the "catastrophic suffering" in Gaza.
Guterres, nearing the end of his tenure, is pushing an ambitious "UN80" restructuring plan to address a severe budget crisis and improve efficiency. Despite Trump’s past and present aggressive policies and funding cuts towards the UN, Guterres expressed hope for a "peacemaking partnership" ahead of their scheduled meeting. He concluded his speech with a defiant pledge: "For peace. For dignity. For justice. For humanity. I will never give up."
Other notable figures scheduled to speak include French President Emmanuel Macron, who recently led a conference focused on Palestinian statehood, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, expected to meet with Trump and address the UN Security Council regarding the ongoing war, where Russia’s veto power has stymied action.