United Nations — U.S. President Donald Trump delivered a combative, wide-ranging speech to the U.N. General Assembly on Tuesday, arguing for lower levels of global migration, dismissing climate change policies, and unleashing sharp criticism at world leaders.
In the 56-minute address, Trump told assembled leaders their countries were “going to hell” and described today’s world as “empty.” The remarks marked a return to his trademark defiance of international institutions, echoing his first term, when he regularly lambasted the United Nations. Delegates offered polite applause as he exited the chamber.
Much of Trump’s speech centered on two of his biggest grievances: immigration and climate change. He showcased his U.S. border crackdown as a model for other nations to follow in curbing mass migration, while human rights groups countered that migrants are simply seeking safety and better lives.
“I’m really good at this stuff,” Trump declared. “Your countries are going to hell.” He went on to call climate change a “con job” and warned that Europe’s push toward clean energy was “suicidal.” Referring to his recent meeting with Britain’s King Charles, an outspoken advocate of environmental protection, Trump said: “Immigration and their suicidal energy ideas will be the death of Western Europe.”
Trump’s administration is expected to propose narrowing the right to asylum at the United Nations later this month, in what critics say would dismantle key elements of the post–World War II humanitarian system.
The former president also sprinkled his remarks with false or misleading claims — alleging that London Mayor Sadiq Khan supports “sharia law” in the British capital and incorrectly declaring that inflation in the U.S. had been defeated, despite the Federal Reserve reporting an increase only days earlier.
Rebukes for Allies, Threats to Russia
Turning to foreign policy, Trump ridiculed NATO allies for continuing to buy Russian oil while simultaneously opposing Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine. “They’re funding the war against themselves,” he said. Trump threatened sweeping economic measures, including new tariffs on Russia and potentially on countries that continue doing business with Moscow, singling out India and China as examples.
“For those tariffs to be effective, European nations would have to join us in adopting the exact same measures,” he added, without detailing specifics.
Later in the day, Trump met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who appealed for more U.S. support. Asked by reporters whether NATO nations should shoot down Russian aircraft that cross their airspace, Trump replied: “Yes, I do.”
RELATED NEWS : France joins other Western nations in recognizing Palestinian state
Middle East and Gaza Conflict
On the Israel-Palestinian conflict, Trump rejected growing calls for recognition of a Palestinian state, saying such a move would “reward Hamas terrorists.” He repeated demands for the release of all hostages taken during the Gaza conflict, calling for a ceasefire-for-hostages deal and urging immediate negotiations for peace.
“We have to stop the war in Gaza immediately. We have to immediately negotiate peace,” he said, before heading into meetings with Gulf leaders to discuss Gaza’s future.
Personal Grievances at the UN
Trump, who has openly cast himself as a peacemaker deserving of the Nobel Peace Prize, used part of his platform to air personal frustrations with the U.N. itself. He joked about being stranded on a malfunctioning escalator with First Lady Melania Trump and complained about a faulty teleprompter at the podium.
“These are the two things I got from the United Nations — a bad escalator and a bad teleprompter,” he quipped, noting that Melania nearly fell when the escalator abruptly stopped.
The speech drew mixed reactions — applause from some, silence from others — but made clear that Trump, seeking to reassert himself on the global stage, intends to challenge both allies and rivals with an “America-first” agenda, unapologetically rejecting climate science, migration frameworks, and the multilateral traditions of the United Nations itself.
SOURCE : REUTERS & UN | Follow Us: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Youtube |
