President Trump seized the spotlight at the United Nations General Assembly, delivering a meandering, nearly hour-long speech that questioned the very mission of the global body and lectured its member nations. Throughout his address, Trump painted himself as the sole architect of international problem-solving, boasting about his record and dismissing the U.N. as largely ineffective.
Coinciding with the General Assembly’s 80th anniversary, amidst active conflicts in Gaza, Sudan, and Ukraine, Mr. Trump asserted that he had successfully resolved numerous global disputes, a task he claimed the U.N. utterly failed at. “Sadly, in all cases, the United Nations did not even try to help in any on them,” he stated.
Beyond taking credit for de-escalating tensions between Israel and Iran, Cambodia and Thailand, and Armenia and Azerbaijan, Mr. Trump controversially blamed his predecessor, Joseph R. Biden, for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. He further alleged that China and India were funding the war by purchasing Russian oil, threatening new tariffs on Russia if a cease-fire isn’t met, but only if Europe halts its own oil and gas imports from Russia.
Significantly exceeding his allocated 15 minutes, the president veered off-script to make questionable assertions about immigration and green energy. He warned that mass migration coupled with a shift to renewable energy constituted a “double-tailed monster” threatening to dismantle European nations. In addition to criticizing Mr. Biden, Trump targeted other political adversaries and NATO allies that have recognized a Palestinian state.
Regarding Gaza, Mr. Trump reiterated his demand for the return of all hostages, yet notably omitted any mention of Israel’s ongoing offensive in Gaza City or his previous commitments to deliver more humanitarian aid to the beleaguered enclave. Israel’s blockade, amidst a worsening humanitarian crisis, has drawn accusations of genocide.
He dedicated a full ten minutes to denouncing climate change as a “hoax,” despite overwhelming scientific consensus confirming its reality and the fact that global average temperatures have already risen by over 1 degree Celsius since the industrial era began. Trump also claimed environmentalists wish to “kill all the cows,” a baseless assertion.
Later, he linked migration and renewable energy as forces “destroying a large part of the free world.” He incorrectly accused China of not building wind farms, when in fact China’s wind and solar capacity expansion surpassed coal capacity in 2025. He praised Germany for returning to nuclear and fossil fuels, declaring, “All green is all bankrupt.”
On immigration, Trump claimed that the U.N. was financing illegal migrant waves into the United States, contradicting the reality that U.N. refugee agencies provide humanitarian assistance like shelter and food in refugee camps globally. While acknowledging success in reducing illegal border crossings, he falsely claimed nobody was crossing into the US, despite thousands of apprehensions.
His speech, lasting approximately 57 minutes, was his longest at the General Assembly, primarily serving as a platform to criticize the U.N. and other nations for their perceived failures. He defended free speech, yet critics argue he promotes a government-led assault on it.
Highlights from the day:
-
In his welcoming address, U.N. Secretary General António Guterres offered a stark warning about the world’s chaotic state but expressed hope that unity and diplomacy could restore stability. He emphasized that the U.N.’s foundational principles were “under siege.” Guterres, who has made climate change a priority, heard his concerns dismissed as a “hoax” by Trump just minutes later.
-
Other prominent speakers on Tuesday included French President Emmanuel Macron, who hosted a two-state solution conference for Palestinian statehood on Monday; Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani; King Abdullah II of Jordan; and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
-
The U.N. Security Council prepared for consecutive sessions on the wars in Gaza and Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was expected to address the Council and meet with Mr. Trump. The Council’s inaction in both conflicts has been attributed to the veto powers of Russia (on Ukraine) and the United States (in support of Israel).
Reactions and Bilateral Encounters:
King Abdullah of Jordan, the first Arab leader to speak, delivered a powerful message, stating, “The war in Gaza marks one of the darkest days in the history of this institution.” He criticized global powers and the U.N. for decades of inaction that allowed the conflict to escalate.
Despite previous tensions, President Trump extended an olive branch to Brazil, confirming plans to meet with President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. This softer tone followed Lula’s own biting address, which indirectly targeted Trump’s efforts to halt Brazil’s prosecution of former President Jair Bolsonaro, a Trump ally convicted of a coup plot.
Protests Outside the U.N.
Outside the U.N. building, anti-Trump protesters gathered, leading to a dozen arrests. Demonstrators, some from the group Rise and Resist, held signs like “Trump is the emergency” and “Dear world, we’re sorry,” expressing their disapproval to international leaders. They highlighted the importance of global recognition of Palestinian statehood, a stance Mr. Trump publicly opposed.