Trump to Outline ‘Vision for the World’ at U.N. General Assembly

President Donald Trump is set to outline his “vision for the world” at the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Tuesday, with a speech that officials say will also tackle Palestinian statehood and the ongoing Israel-Hamas war. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt described the address as “one of his biggest foreign policy speeches yet,” adding that the president will project American strength and share a direct, constructive approach to global issues. Leavitt noted that Trump would hold meetings with Muslim and Arab leaders on the sidelines as part of the trip.

The president is slated to host bilateral talks with United Nations Secretary General António Guterres, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky, the leaders of Argentina, and representatives from the European Union during the week in New York. In parallel, France co-chaired a conference with Saudi Arabia on the debate surrounding Palestinian statehood at the U.N. General Assembly on Monday, with French President Emmanuel Macron formally declaring recognition of the state of Palestine. “We are here because the time has come. The time has come for release of the 48 hostages held by Hamas. The time has come to stop the war, the bombardment of Gaza, the massacres and the flight of civilians,” Macron said, framing recognition as a path to peace and affirming the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people.

Meanwhile, several Western allies moved to recognize a Palestinian state ahead of the UN gathering. The United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and Portugal announced their recognition on Sunday. British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said the move was intended “to revive the hope of peace and a two-state solution” and to signal a better future for both Palestinians and Israelis. Trump, however, has long opposed recognizing Palestinian statehood. When asked about the U.K.’s decision during a press conference with Starmer on his state visit last week, Trump said, “I have a disagreement with the Prime Minister on that score. One of our few disagreements, actually.” He added that his priority remains the safety of hostages and the need to confront Hamas.

Trump has repeatedly emphasized the need for the hostages to be released immediately. “I want the hostages released now, right now, not one or two… We have to remember Oct. 7, one of the worst, most violent days in the history of the world,” he said, telling reporters that he had spoken with freed captives who described the brutality of Hamas during their captivity. The UN appearance comes as the war in Gaza persists and international attention remains focused on the path to a lasting peace and the terms of Palestinian statehood.