Trump tells UN not living up to potential as he touts America First at General Assembly

UNITED NATIONS — President Donald Trump returned to the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday to tout his administration s foreign policy milestones and to argue that the world body is not living up to its potential. Since taking office, Trump has moved quickly to shrink U.S. support for the UN and other multilateral institutions, including withdrawing the United States from the World Health Organization and ordering a review of U.S. participation in hundreds of intergovernmental organizations to determine which align with the America First agenda. In his remarks at the General Assembly, Trump argued that empty words do not end wars and pressed for a more muscular American footprint in global affairs.

Trump delivered a blended performance, pairing self praise with pointed criticism of international bodies. He touted what he described as renewed American strength around the world and cited what he framed as his administration s successes in hotspots from the Middle East to Eastern Europe. He tied current conflicts to what he described as a global elite that undermines sovereign nations, and he repeated his assessment that the United Nations has tremendous potential but is not living up to it. He presented U.S. actions such as the June strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities and more recent strikes against alleged drug smugglers in the Caribbean as evidence of Washington taking decisive steps when others will not. He also referenced Venezuelan origins of some vessels involved in those operations and suggested such moves reflect a broader U.S. strategy in the region. Anjali K. Dayal, a Fordham University professor of international politics, said the UN system is under unusual strain but that the current moment could still yield workable outcomes if leaders stay engaged.

The United Nations, now in the 80th year of its existence, remains a focal point for global tensions. As world leaders wrestle with wars in Gaza and Ukraine, anxieties about the pace of technological change, and doubts about the efficiency of multilateral institutions, Trump used his address to frame the United Nations as a stage for accountability and a test of whether ally nations will live up to shared interests. General Assembly President Annalena Baerbock offered a cautious note, saying the organization is under stress but not beyond repair and urging leaders to keep faith in the work that remains to be done rather than walk away.

Following his speech, Trump was slated to hold one-on-one talks with U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and with Ukraine, Argentina and the European Union, followed by a group session with officials from Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Turkey, Pakistan, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and Jordan. He was to return to Washington after attending a reception with more than 100 invited world leaders later on Tuesday.

Gaza and Ukraine cast a long shadow over the speech, with Trump outlining plans for a ceasefire that would pave the way for hostage releases while arguing that the push for Palestinian statehood should not jeopardize security interests or U.S. strategic objectives. France had announced it recognized Palestinian statehood at the start of a UN meeting, a move Washington has opposed, arguing that such recognitions should come through negotiations toward a two-state solution. Trump criticized the broader push for statehood, warning that it could reward Hamas for atrocities and complicate efforts to secure the remaining hostages.

Since returning to the White House, Trump has faced pressure from European allies and some Republican lawmakers to intensify sanctions on Russia as Moscow continues its war in Ukraine. He pressed for Europe to reduce its purchases of Russian oil and floated the possibility of a tariff approach described by aides as a way to accelerate a peace process, arguing that strong economic measures could halt the bloodshed quickly.

Trump has repeatedly framed his foreign policy as a record of tangible outcomes and has cast his administration s actions as reforms that would make the United States safer and more respected on the world stage. He has also asserted that the UN has not done enough to advance peace, despite international mediation efforts that have taken place at various theaters around the globe. The president continued to press his case that he has ended conflicts and that his leadership would deliver quicker results than multilateral efforts, a stance that sits at the core of his America First approach.

As the assembly moves forward, Baerbock and other world leaders will watch closely to see whether the United Nations can sustain unity on urgent security challenges while navigating the realities of a shifting global balance of power. The event comes amid a period of heightened volatility for the UN, with member states debating a path forward that could either reinvigorate multilateralism or accelerate a broader reassessment of who should lead the postwar order.

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Trump will return to Washington after what aides described as a busy schedule of bilateral and group meetings, signaling that the United States intends to be at the center of diplomacy even as it questions the efficiency and scope of the world body. The president has long argued that while the United Nations can play a constructive role, it should not supersede American interests or dictate policies that the administration views as misaligned with national priorities. As U.N. leaders and allies gauge the trajectory of U.S. engagement, the next phase of the General Assembly is likely to test whether a reinvigorated U.S. stance can coexist with renewed faith in multilateral institutions or if the era of deep skepticism toward such bodies will continue to shape global diplomacy.

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