Trump blasts Labour at UN, targets Starmer and Khan over migration and energy

Former President Donald Trump used his UN General Assembly address to deliver a sweeping critique of Britain’s Labour leadership, taking aim at Keir Starmer and London Mayor Sadiq Khan while framing Western migration and climate policies as threats to stability. He exceeded his allotted time, delivering a 60-minute speech that critics said veered into sharp domestic politics as leaders gathered in New York on the opening day of the 80th General Assembly session.

Trump opened by blaming his successor in the White House for ongoing conflicts, while casting himself as a peacemaker who had helped end wars on two continents. He criticized the United Nations for what he described as bureaucratic inaction, saying the body often “writes really strongly worded letters” and that action, not rhetoric, is needed to resolve wars. The general tone of the speech blended foreign-policy grievance with direct political barbs aimed at Western allies.

Trump directed much of his ire at Labour’s Britain, singling out Sir Keir Starmer and London Mayor Sadiq Khan. He urged Britain to resume exploiting North Sea oil and criticized what he described as the nation’s “windmills” that he argued were ruining the English and Scottish countryside. He also questioned urban governance in London, calling the mayor “terrible, terrible” and accusing the city of being transformed under Khan’s leadership. He later alleged, without evidence presented during the event, that some Western leaders were moving toward Sharia law, a claim rejected by Khan’s office, which said London remained safe and welcoming to visitors and residents.

The president’s remarks were delivered amid anticipation that the UN address would include blunt truths about migration, security, and global energy policy. He criticized several countries, including Britain, France, Canada and Australia, for recognizing a Palestinian state this week, arguing that such recognitions could embolden Hamas and “encourage continued conflict.” He called on governments that have recognized Palestine to release hostages in Gaza and warned that such moves “are going to hell.”

Immigration policy dominated a large portion of Trump’s remarks. He described unchecked immigration as “the number one political issue of our time,” saying European countries have been overwhelmed by what he labeled an influx of illegal migrants. “End the failed experiment of open borders,” he urged, arguing that Europe’s experience shows the consequences of permissive border policies. He asserted that Western nations were under assault from immigration and argued that the United Nations had a role in addressing the issue, though he did not offer a concrete UN-led plan during the speech.

Pivoting to climate policy, Trump framed energy and immigration as twin threats to Western vitality. He called climate-change advocacy a “hoax” and claimed that China builds and exports renewable energy technologies while not fully using them domestically. He credited Germany for reducing its renewables program, and he criticized Starmer for Labour’s stance on wind power and energy taxes, noting his interactions with Prime Minister [name redacted in notes] and lamenting what he described as insufficient support for oil and gas exploration in the United Kingdom. He reminded listeners that Aberdeen had once been a major oil hub in Europe and argued that high taxation discouraged oil development in that region.

“Aberdeen was the oil capital of Europe,” Trump said, insisting that the United Kingdom should capitalize on its energy resources. He urged the Prime Minister to listen and to support traditional energy production as a matter of economic resilience and national heritage. He warned that if green-energy policies continue to push away fossil fuels, the country would face serious economic and strategic consequences. He concluded that he hoped European leaders would reconsider their energy strategy, suggesting that the shift toward renewables as a sole path could undermine Western industrial capability.

After finishing his remarks, Trump told reporters that he remains supportive of the United Nations, despite disagreements. “I may disagree with it sometimes, but I am so behind it, because I think the potential for peace for this institution is so great,” he said, signaling a complex relationship with multilateral institutions even as he framed his critique in terms of national interests.

The UN session took place amid familiar tensions: technical glitches that forced Trump to read from notes, and a broader atmosphere of unease about how the world’s leaders will address escalating migration, security, and energy challenges. In Britain, reaction to the speech was swift from Labour and city officials. A spokesman for Sadiq Khan’s office rejected the notion that London is embracing any form of Sharia law or that the city is unsafe, stressing that London remains one of the world’s most visited and livable cities for residents and migrants alike.

The remarks also came days after Labour staged a highly publicized second state visit by Trump, a development that underscored the political tensions surrounding U.S.-UK relations and the question of how the broader alliance navigates migration, energy, and climate debates on the world stage. Observers noted that Trump’s address amplified a confrontation with Labour’s policies, attempting to frame these debates in terms of Western identity and security.

In the wider context, the speech highlighted how global leaders are increasingly using international forums to press domestic policy agendas. While Trump sought to position himself as a stabilizing force against what he described as misguided climate policy and porous borders, observers cautioned that the rhetoric risks inflaming tensions at a time when international cooperation is needed to address shared challenges. The UN session closed with no immediate policy breakthroughs, but the remarks set the tone for ongoing debates about migration, energy, and security across Europe and North America.