This year, the General Debate opened on September 23, with over 150 heads of state and government expected to speak. Brazil opened the floor, followed immediately by the United States.

Trump’s wide-ranging remarks stretched close to an hour, touching on conflicts in the Middle East and Eastern Europe, climate change, migration, and the very role of the United Nations itself. His speech was characteristically sharp, combining sweeping claims with pointed criticism of both adversaries and allies. While the reaction from delegates was muted, the address nonetheless set the tone for this year’s debate.

Questioning the UN’s Effectiveness

Trump began by casting doubt on the purpose of the UN itself. He argued that while the organization produces resolutions and letters, it falls short in enforcing them. “What is the purpose of the United Nations?” he asked, before adding that “empty words don’t solve war.” He criticised the institution for failing to provide meaningful assistance in what he described as his efforts to end “seven unbendable wars” in just seven months.

He went further, recounting his past offer to rebuild the UN headquarters for $500 million, contrasting it with the organization’s chosen path of a multi-billion-dollar refurbishment project. The anecdote served as both a critique of perceived inefficiency and a reminder of his long-running scepticism toward multilateral structures.

On Gaza, Trump demanded the immediate release of hostages, framing the issue as a moral obligation. He warned that unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state would amount to “a reward to Hamas for its horrible atrocities.” Instead, he urged nations to unite behind a single demand: “Release the hostages now.”

His remarks reflected continuity with previous US policy on Hamas, but also signaled a hard line against countries moving toward recognition of Palestinian statehood outside a broader peace agreement. The speech stopped short of outlining a US-led peace plan, though Trump is scheduled to hold meetings with leaders from Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt later in the week.

Turning to Europe, Trump revisited the war in Ukraine, a conflict now entering its third year. He admitted he had initially believed it would be “the easiest” war to resolve, citing his personal rapport with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Instead, he said, the war has become one of the deadliest ongoing conflicts, claiming “five to seven thousand young people a week.”

US President Donald Trump addresses the 80th United Nations General Assembly at

UN headquarters in New York City, on Tuesday. Photo: Mike Segar/Reuters

Trump accused NATO members of hypocrisy for purchasing Russian energy while supporting Ukraine militarily. His proposed solution was economic pressure: “If Russia does not end the war, the United States will impose very strict tariffs which would end the war very quickly, but the Europeans have to adopt them as well.”

Notably, his position evolved further after his speech. On his Truth Social platform, Trump stated that Ukraine could “win all of Ukraine back in its original form” with sufficient European and NATO backing. This marked a shift from earlier suggestions that peace might require Kyiv to cede some territory, bringing his stance closer to that of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, with whom he met shortly after the address.

On Iran, Trump returned to a familiar theme, labeling the country “the world’s number one sponsor of terror.” He said its nuclear enrichment capabilities had been “completely demolished” and that his administration had helped broker an end to a 12-day conflict in the region. While the details of these claims were not elaborated on, they reflected his continued framing of Iran as a destabilizing force in the Middle East.

Sharp Criticism of UN Role on Migration

Trump devoted a significant portion of his address to migration, linking the issue directly to UN programs. He alleged that the organization had spent hundreds of millions of dollars in 2024 to “support 624,000 migrants to journey into the United States to infiltrate our southern border.” He argued that the UN’s role should be to “stop invasion, not promote them,” casting the assistance as undermining national sovereignty.

Expanding his critique to Europe, he warned that migration and energy policies were “destroying” the continent. He suggested that the root of the problem lay not in receiving countries, but in failing to stabilize nations of origin: “We have a big heart for places that are struggling – we have to solve the problem in their countries.”

Climate Change and Energy

Perhaps the most polarizing section of Trump’s remarks came when he dismissed climate change as “the greatest con job ever perpetrated on the world.” He criticized renewable energy projects, calling wind turbines “pathetic” and describing the broader shift toward green energy as “a scam.”

He framed climate policies as an unfair burden on industrialized nations, arguing that efforts to reduce emissions were undermined by China’s continued high output of carbon dioxide. “If you don’t get away from the green energy scam, your country is going to fail,” he warned.

These comments drew visible discomfort in the hall. Several delegates were seen shaking their heads, while others sat in silence as Trump denied what the overwhelming majority of scientists regard as settled evidence of human-driven climate change.

In a surprising diversion, Trump claimed that London was moving toward adopting Sharia law, singling out the city’s mayor, Sadiq Khan, for criticism. A spokesperson for Khan dismissed the remarks, calling them “appalling and bigoted.”

US President Donald Trump speaks during the 80th session of the

UN’s General Assembly on Tuesday in New York City. Photo: Chip Somodevilla

 Tone and Reception 

Reactions within the Assembly were restrained, though moments of unease were evident. Delegates squirmed during Trump’s climate comments, and some shook their heads at his dismissal of international migration frameworks. Yet, applause was notably absent both during and after the speech.

Trump himself later claimed the address had been “very well received,” posting on Truth Social that he believed he had presented the United States as firm yet fair in its positions. Following the speech, he met with UN Secretary-General António Guterres. While Trump reaffirmed that the US was “behind the United Nations 100%,” he acknowledged disagreements with its methods. Guterres, in turn, emphasized cooperation, particularly on issues of peace.

Written by Olivier Noudjalbaye Dedingar, USA/UN Correspondent.