New York – United States President Donald Trump delivered an address to the United Nations General Assembly in New York yesterday, blending harsh criticism of the organisation with pledges of support for its role in global peace.
Trump opened his remarks by pointing to technical hitches at the UN headquarters, joking about a faulty teleprompter and escalator before launching into a lengthy off-script speech. He questioned the UN’s effectiveness, accused it of funding migration crises, and ridiculed climate change, describing it as “the greatest con job ever perpetrated on the world.”
The US leader used much of his address to boast about his administration’s achievements, citing a strong economy, reductions in illegal border crossings, counter-cartel operations in Latin America, and crime reduction in American cities. He defended his tariff policy, calling it a safeguard for US “sovereignty and security,” and announced a new international initiative led by Washington to enforce the Biological Weapons Convention through artificial intelligence.
On global issues, Trump dismissed renewable energy, labelling solar and wind power expensive compared to fossil fuels, despite studies showing the opposite. He further claimed that “green energy scams” benefited countries that ignored environmental rules while disadvantaging compliant nations.
Trump also spoke of religious freedom, declaring Christianity as “the most persecuted religion on the planet today,” and called for its protection. He urged the defence of free speech and sovereignty among nations.
After his address, Trump met with UN Secretary-General António Guterres, striking a softer tone. He assured Guterres that the United States was “100 percent behind the United Nations” and praised the institution’s potential for promoting peace.
The American president also disclosed a brief exchange with Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, noting they agreed to hold further talks next week despite ongoing tensions over Washington’s recent 50 percent tariff on Brazilian goods.
Away from the UN floor, NATO officials meeting in Brussels described Russia’s violation of Estonian airspace last week as “likely accidental” but reckless, reflecting Moscow’s willingness to take risks with the alliance’s security.
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