President Donald Trump delivered a wide-ranging and often contentious speech at the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday, September 23rd, sharply criticizing the global body, European immigration policies, and international climate initiatives.
Trump characterized the U.N. as ineffective, asserting it was “not even coming close to living up to that potential” despite its “tremendous, tremendous potential.” He highlighted what he described as his administration’s successes in mediating conflicts worldwide while lamenting that the U.N. had failed to end wars or enforce peace. Trump also noted technical difficulties, joking about a broken teleprompter and a halted escalator during his arrival.
The president strongly condemned European migration policies, framing uncontrolled immigration as a threat to the nation’s very existence. He claimed Europe has been “invaded by a force of illegal aliens like nobody’s ever seen before,” and criticized political correctness for preventing governments from taking action. Trump compared the situation to the U.S. southern border, emphasizing that his administration had reasserted sovereignty and was deporting individuals who entered illegally. Latvian and Estonian officials acknowledged the challenges of uncontrolled migration while stressing the importance of border security.
On climate change, Trump dismissed global initiatives as “the greatest con job ever perpetrated on the world,” deriding green energy projects as financially unsustainable. He warned that nations continuing such policies risked economic collapse, saying they “are going to fail” if they do not move away from green energy initiatives.
Trump also addressed ongoing conflicts, including Russia’s war in Ukraine, Gaza, and tensions in Syria and Israel. He expressed confidence that Ukraine, with NATO and European support, could reclaim territory lost to Russia, while threatening strong tariffs if Moscow refused peace. Regarding the Gaza conflict, Trump opposed recent international recognition of Palestinian statehood, labeling it “a reward for these horrible atrocities,” and emphasized the need to release Israeli hostages. U.S. officials reported ongoing efforts toward a de-escalation agreement between Syria and Israel, though negotiations remain complex.
Despite his criticisms, Trump affirmed continued U.S. support for the U.N., telling Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, “I may disagree with it sometimes, but I am so behind it because the potential for peace at this institution is great.”
