As the United Nations General Assembly convened for its 80th anniversary amid ongoing conflicts in Gaza, Sudan, and Ukraine, the pursuit of peace and stability remained as elusive as ever. The session was marked by a particularly fiery address from President Trump, who used his platform to vehemently criticize the U.N. and advocate for his ‘America First’ agenda. His speech, initially delivered without a working teleprompter, was filled with grievances and disputed claims.
Trump targeted the United Nations directly, questioning its relevance and purpose. He asserted that the organization had failed to address global conflicts, claiming personal credit for resolving disputes like those between Israel and Iran, Cambodia and Thailand, and Armenia and Azerbaijan, suggesting he was doing the U.N.’s job. He even alluded to a past slight, remarking, “All I got from the United Nations was an escalator on the way up that stopped right in the middle.”
The President’s remarks frequently veered off script and extended beyond his allotted time. He lambasted close NATO allies for recognizing a Palestinian state, urging them instead to focus solely on demanding the release of hostages. Regarding Gaza, he reiterated calls for hostage returns but notably omitted any mention of Israel’s actions in Gaza City or his previous commitments to increasing humanitarian aid to the embattled region, which is facing a severe humanitarian crisis and accusations of genocide.
Trump also directed harsh rhetoric towards immigration, falsely claiming nations were intentionally sending migrants to the United States. He declared, “Your countries are being ruined” by immigration, echoing a sentiment he has increasingly voiced. He inaccurately accused the U.N. of financing illegal migration, despite its refugee agencies providing vital humanitarian assistance to displaced populations worldwide.
On energy and climate, Trump dismissed renewable options as “all bankrupt” and praised Germany for reportedly reverting to nuclear and fossil fuels. His stance on global security included a new push for a biological weapons convention and a call for a “cessation of the development of nuclear weapons,” even as the U.S. continues to develop new variants of its own arsenal. He also threatened Russia with “full and powerful” tariffs if no deal was made, but only after European nations ceased all Russian oil and gas purchases—a situation he claimed to have only recently learned about, despite it being ongoing since the conflict began.
In a strong counterpoint to Trump’s isolationist stance, U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres opened the assembly by painting a stark picture of a world in chaos, warning of “reckless disruption and relentless human suffering.” He declared, “The principles of the United Nations that you have established are under siege.” Guterres highlighted pressing global issues including the invasion of sovereign nations, the weaponization of hunger, the suppression of truth, and rising sea levels. He emphasized that diplomatic solutions were essential for the wars in Gaza, Ukraine, and Sudan, expressing particular concern for the catastrophic suffering in Gaza.
Guterres underscored the U.N.’s role as a crucial forum for global cooperation, advocating for the preservation and strengthening of its principles of multilateralism, human rights, development, and aid. He also addressed the U.N.’s severe budget crisis, mentioning a planned $500 million cut for 2026 and an ambitious reform project, UN80, to streamline operations. The Secretary-General, nearing the end of his tenure, is striving to ensure the organization remains robust for his successor, even as he navigates a challenging relationship with the Trump administration.
Beyond the main speeches, the General Assembly schedule included high-level meetings. French President Emmanuel Macron led a two-state solution conference focused on Palestinian statehood, a proposal opposed by President Trump. The U.N. Security Council was set to hold sessions on the wars in Gaza and Ukraine, though its effectiveness in these conflicts has been hampered by veto powers. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was also slated to meet with Trump, seeking renewed U.S. commitment to postwar security guarantees and funding for weapons, as U.S. aid under Trump had ceased. Notably, Palestinian leaders were absent from the assembly, as the Trump administration denied visas to Mahmoud Abbas and his delegation.
The event also saw a significant security development with the Secret Service seizing an illicit network of sophisticated communication devices near the U.N. headquarters, capable of disrupting cellular networks and potentially used for surveillance by a foreign nation. The discovery, which included 100,000 SIM cards and 300 servers, highlighted the complex security challenges surrounding the gathering of world leaders.