President Donald Trump delivered a strong speech to the United Nations General Assembly, criticizing the institution for failing to address growing wars and immigration problems, calling its statements “empty words” that “don’t solve war.”
“All they seem to do is write a really strongly worded letter,” he said, while pointing to his own efforts to broker peace during a time of tension with U.S. allies over Palestinian statehood, trade, and other disputes.
Trump dismissed climate change agreements as a “con job,” claiming they were hurting developed nations by forcing them to change their economies while developing countries ignored the rules.
Instead, he called on countries to work more closely with Washington, saying he believed the U.N. still “has tremendous potential.” He highlighted his own record while criticizing the failures of other nations.
“I’m really good at this stuff,” Trump said. “Your countries are going to hell.”
Leaders including Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Finnish President Alexander Stubb, and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva were in the audience.
Since his last U.N. address six years ago, Trump said, “the guns of war have shattered the peace I forged on two continents.” He claimed credit for ending seven wars and conflicts in seven months but said the U.N. never offered to help, only providing “an escalator that stopped in the middle” and “a teleprompter that didn’t work.”
After his remarks, Trump planned meetings with U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres, leaders from Ukraine, Argentina, and the European Union, as well as a group of Middle Eastern and Asian nations, according to White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt. He also praised his “excellent chemistry” with Lula.
During his first term, Trump told the U.N. he would “reject the ideology of globalism,” which drew laughter from some leaders. This year, he struck a different tone, offering “the hand of American leadership and friendship” to nations willing to work with the U.S. toward a safer and more prosperous world.
He also urged support for ending wars in Gaza and Ukraine but stressed that countries “must work together.” While his ties with some foreign leaders have improved, Trump has also pushed a tougher economic stance by placing tariffs on both allies and rivals. He said some of these tariffs were in retaliation.
“We are hitting them back,” Trump said of Brazil, before suggesting the two nations could build a stronger economic partnership.
At the same time, his administration has reduced U.S. involvement in the U.N., cutting contributions and leaving its ambassador seat vacant until recently. A State Department spokesperson said Friday that the U.N. should “get back to basics” and focus on peace, sovereignty, and liberty.
This shift came as France, the U.K., Canada, and Australia recognized a Palestinian state, breaking with Washington’s position. Leavitt said Trump “has been very clear he disagrees with this decision.” In his speech, Trump argued that recognizing Palestinian statehood would be “a reward” for Hamas and demanded the release of Israeli hostages.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio told NBC News’ “TODAY” show that those countries “will play much of a role in bringing about the end of this conflict in Gaza,” adding that “any future resolution” must be negotiated directly with Israel.
Trump also called on European leaders to impose major tariffs on India and China to pressure Russia to end the war in Ukraine, calling their failure to act “inexcusable” and “embarrassing.”
“They’re buying oil and gas from Russia while they’re fighting Russia,” he said. “They have to immediately stop all energy purchases from Russia; otherwise, we’re wasting a lot of time.”
Meanwhile, the U.S. has already placed heavy trade tariffs on India and added a $100,000 fee on new H-1B visas. Negotiations with other countries over these measures are ongoing.
With wars in Gaza and Ukraine still unresolved, Trump admitted frustration that peace has not been reached, saying Russian President Vladimir Putin “really let me down” after their meeting in Alaska. The conflict, now in its fourth year, is “making them look bad,” Trump added.
Rubio said Trump has been “deeply disappointed” with Putin’s actions, and while new sanctions are possible, he warned that too many penalties could reduce America’s role as a peace broker.
