President Donald Trump delivered a combative address to the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday morning, marking the 80th anniversary of the world body.
During Trumps’ roughly hour-long speech, he sharply criticized the world body and promote what he described as his administration’s accomplishments.
He opened by contrasting the state of the nation a year earlier with what he called a much stronger United States nows. Trump said at the top of his remarks: “One year ago, our country was in deep trouble. But today, just eight months into my administration, we’re the hottest country anywhere in the world, and there is no other country even close.” From there, the President pivoted to criticism of his predecessor and then broadened his attacks to foreign leaders and international institutions, touching on migration, the war in Ukraine and other flashpoints.
A large portion of Trump’s remarks targeted the U.N., and argued the organization has failed to live up to its promise, accusing it of producing stirring statements that go nowhere and doing little to stop conflict. He suggested that rhetoric alone cannot end wars and insisted that concrete action is required. Trump asked: “What is the purpose of the United Nations? It has such tremendous, tremendous potential. But it’s not even coming close to living up to that potential. For the most part, at least for now, all they seem to do is write a really strongly-worded letter and then never follow that letter up. It’s empty words and empty words don’t solve war. The only thing that solves war and wars is action.”
Trump also framed himself as a dealmaker and peace-builder, saying that critics and observers ought to recognize the diplomatic achievements his administration claims to have secured. Trump said: “Everyone says that I should get the Nobel Peace Prize for each one of these achievements. But for me, the real prize will be the sons and daughters who lived to grow up with their mothers and fathers because millions of people are no longer being killed in endless and inglorious wars.”
Turning to Russia, he warned that the United States could impose a “very strong round of powerful tariffs” if Moscow refused to negotiate an end to the fighting in Ukraine. He urged other nations to reduce their purchases of Russian oil and energy, saying that “otherwise we’re all wasting a lot of time. Europe has to step it up. They can’t be doing what they’re doing. They’re buying oil and gas from Russia while they’re fighting Russia. It’s embarrassing to them.” Trump singled out China and India for buying Russian oil, portraying those purchases as enabling the conflict.
On the topic of immigration, Trump told world leaders they should follow the U.S. example, faulting the U.N. for failing to address what he called a global crisis of uncontrolled migration he feels is damaging countries’ social and economic fabric: “Not only is the U.N. not solving the problems it should, too often it’s actually creating new problems for us to solve,” Trump said. “The best example is the No. 1 political issue of our time, the crisis of uncontrolled migration. It’s uncontrolled. Your countries are being ruined.”
He also attacked international efforts to confront climate change, and defending his decision to pull the United States out of the Paris Agreement — a move he argued other governments should reconsider if they want to avoid economic harm.
Addressing the war between Israel and Hamas, Trump urged the international community to unite behind a demand for the immediate release of hostages in Gaza, though he offered no concrete negotiation plan or path to move forward. He reiterated opposition to unilateral moves by U.N. members to recognize a Palestinian state, saying such actions would reward Hamas and potentially prolong violence: “Now, as if to encourage continued conflict, some of this body is seeking to unilaterally recognize a Palestinian state. The rewards would be too great for Hamas terrorists for their atrocities.” Trump instead called for a united message from the body for Hamas to release hostages: “Those who want peace should be united with one message: release the hostages now. Just release the hostages now. Thank you.”
To close, Trump highlighted recent U.S. military actions targeting alleged narcotics networks tied to Venezuela’s government, describing them as an unprecedented use of force against criminal enterprises. He issued a stark warning to those trafficking deadly drugs into the United States, saying the administration intends to dismantle those networks decisively: “We’ve recently begun using the supreme power of the United States military to destroy Venezuela terrorists and trafficking networks led by Nicolas Maduro to every terrorist thug smuggling poisonous drugs into the United States of America. To every terrorist thug smuggling poisonous drugs into the United States of America. Please be warned that we will blow you out of existence. That’s what we’re doing.”
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