Trump’s UN speech pulls no punches, frames a sharply renegotiated world order

Trump’s UN speech pulled no punches, presenting a sharp critique of the world body as he sought to redefine U.S. engagement on the global stage. In a 57-minute address at the United Nations General Assembly, the former president argued that the UN has failed to prevent wars and sustain peace, using a malfunctioning escalator and a stubborn teleprompter as a living metaphor for what he depicted as a bloated bureaucracy running on empty words. "What is the purpose of the United Nations?" he asked, then answered: "For the most part, at least for now, all they seem to do is write a really strongly worded letter and then never follow that letter up. It’s empty words, and empty words don’t solve wars." The remarks framed his case that a U.S.-led approach is needed to confront what he described as a series of global failures and a shrinking Western influence on conflicts around the world.

Trump pressed his case that American sovereignty would not be compromised to a supposed globalist regime and highlighted what he described as seven conflicts in which the UN did little, while he claimed to have helped broker peace. He also invoked the Ukraine war and the fight against Hamas, urging European NATO members to end their "foolish dependence on Russian oil and gas" and at one point asking, "Who the hell ever heard of that one?" He argued that Europe’s energy choices were funding Moscow’s aggression even as those nations raised defense spending to about 5% of GDP. After the address, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen met with him, acknowledging that Europe must curb Russian energy purchases to deny Moscow war funds.

Trump also met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and, in a notable shift, said he believes Ukraine can "win" and reclaim territory lost since Moscow’s 2022 invasion. He blasted the UN for not designating Hamas as a terrorist organization and called for the release of all hostages from the Oct. 7 attack in Israel. He described recognition of a Palestinian state without borders as a reward for Hamas and asserted that the United States would chart its own path instead of following the crowd. The crowd responded with polite applause in places, and some leaders kept a wary distance from endorsing his tougher line on Israel and Hamas. The notes indicate that many General Assembly members appeared to be weighing recognition of a Palestinian state, even as Hamas held hostages and the violence persisted, a dynamic that underscored the delicate diplomacy at the podium.

On energy, climate policy and borders, Trump called climate change "the greatest con job ever perpetrated on the world" and argued that such policies have driven up energy costs and empowered a globalist elite that does not practice what it preaches. He said European policies on green energy and open borders reflect a broader Western decline and cited his administration’s hard line on migration, portraying open borders as a failed experiment and arguing that detaining and deporting migrants reduced illegal crossings. He asserted that the United States had shown it could control migration without compromising security, contrasting his approach with what he described as a permissive Western stance that he said had harmed American workers and stability in Europe.

Overall, the address framed a stark contrast: America, under Trump, remains a bulwark against what he called global madness, while still arguing that the UN has been more problem than solution in many of the world’s hotspots. The remarks capture a broader argument about the role of international institutions, energy policy, and security commitments as major powers reassess their choices in a changing geopolitical climate. The exchange comes as the United States continues to recalibrate its foreign policy priorities, seeking to align diplomatic engagement with its economic and security interests while urging allies to shoulder greater responsibility for their own defense and energy security.