Trump Attacks Labour at UN, Urges Britain to Exploit North Sea Oil

In a blistering 60-minute address at the United Nations, former President Donald Trump delivered a broad critique of Labour and London politics as world leaders gathered for the UN's 80th session. He used the forum to lash out at Western policies on migration, climate change and security, directing sharp criticism at Britain, the Labour leader Keir Starmer and the capital's mayor, Sadiq Khan. The remarks framed his visit as a broader assessment of governance in Europe and beyond.

Trump cited Britain's move to formally recognize a Palestinian state among several other countries as a development that could encourage continued conflict. He argued that recognizing Palestine would reward Hamas and its hostage network. He pressed Britain to accelerate North Sea oil development and criticized wind energy projects as landscapes being ruined by turbines. He singled out Khan as an example of urban governance in decline, claiming European capitals are being ruined by open-border policies. The London mayor's office promptly pushed back, defending London as safe and resilient and challenging the portrayal of the city as surrendering to extremism.

Swapping direct quotes for description, the remarks were delivered under visible tension, with Trump forced to read from notes after a glitchy teleprompter and an escalator mishap in the hall. He questioned the purpose of the United Nations and argued that action, not words, are what stop wars. He said he had helped end seven unendable wars and suggested that the organization could do more with decisive leadership, though he reserved skepticism about its current procedures. He also argued that his stance on global conflicts underscores the need for a practical, results-oriented international approach. He blamed the current administration in Washington for ongoing international crises, saying the conflicts since his last term have evolved under the leadership of the current president.

He reiterated that ten countries including Britain, France, Canada and Australia had recently recognized Palestine, saying such steps could undermine stability and aid Hamas. He urged those governments to align on a message that calls for hostages to be released immediately and warned that recognition could be exploited by terrorists. The remarks came as world leaders listened to a stark critique of the diplomacy and decisions that shape the Middle East, with Trump presenting a harder line on handling Palestinian statehood and regional security.

On immigration, Trump framed uncontrolled migration as the top political issue of the era, arguing that Western nations face an onslaught at their borders. He said Europe has been overwhelmed by illegal border crossings and urged a reversal of open-border policies. On climate policy, he described the debate as a political battle over energy strategy, characterizing some green initiatives as economically damaging to Western nations. He credited China with building renewable energy capacity while questioning whether such capacity is used domestically, and he praised Germany for reducing some energy programs while criticizing what he framed as a misguided push in Britain toward aggressive renewables. He cited the Aberdeen oil legacy as an example of the value of domestic energy resources and urged the United Kingdom to maintain and develop its oil reserves rather than curtail them.

After delivering the remarks, Trump said he remained supportive of the United Nations and that his disagreements did not diminish his view of the institution’s potential for peace. He suggested that the UN could fulfill a constructive role if it paired its diplomacy with decisive action, signaling that his approach to global challenges centers on direct, outcome-focused measures rather than process-only diplomacy.