UNITED NATIONS. U.S. President Donald Trump delivered a combative 56-minute speech before the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday, urging countries to curb migration, abandon climate change initiatives, and adopt stronger measures against Russia while dismissing calls for a Palestinian state.
The address marked a return to Trump’s sharp rhetoric toward the U.N., which he frequently criticized during his first term. Delegates offered polite applause as he concluded his remarks.
Much of Trump’s speech centered on immigration and climate change, which he described as existential threats to Western nations. He praised U.S. immigration restrictions as a model for the world, declaring, “I’m really good at this stuff. Your countries are going to hell.” Human rights groups argue that migrants are fleeing hardship in search of better lives.
On climate policy, Trump dismissed scientific consensus, calling climate change a “con job” and warning that reliance on renewable energy would undermine Europe’s future. “Immigration and their suicidal energy ideas will be the death of Western Europe,” he said. This stance comes days after his meeting with Britain’s King Charles, a strong advocate for environmental action.
Trump also renewed his criticism of NATO allies, mocking European nations for continuing to purchase Russian oil. “They’re funding the war against themselves. Who the hell ever heard of that one?” he said, adding that the U.S. is prepared to impose tariffs against Moscow but would need Europe to adopt similar measures. He did not specify details but has considered sanctions extending to countries such as India and China.
Later, Trump met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who pressed for more U.S. support against Russian advances. When asked if NATO should shoot down Russian aircraft entering allied airspace, Trump responded, “Yes, I do.”
On the Middle East, Trump rejected international moves to recognize a Palestinian state, saying, “The rewards would be too great for Hamas terrorists, for their atrocities.” He reiterated U.S. support for a ceasefire-for-hostages deal to secure the return of all remaining captives. “We have to stop the war in Gaza immediately. We have to immediately negotiate peace,” he said. Trump was also scheduled to discuss Gaza with Gulf leaders later in the day.
Trump, who has positioned himself as a peacemaker in pursuit of a Nobel Peace Prize, criticized the U.N. for failing to support his global peace initiatives. He also voiced personal grievances, joking that he and First Lady Melania Trump had once been stranded on a malfunctioning escalator inside the U.N. headquarters and that his teleprompter had briefly failed during the speech. “These are the two things I got from the United Nations — a bad escalator and a bad teleprompter,” he remarked.
Edgardo Hernal started college at UP Diliman and received his BA in Economics from San Sebastian College, Manila, and Masters in Information Systems Management from Keller Graduate School of Management of DeVry University in Oak Brook, IL. He has 25 years of copy editing and management experience at Thomson West, a subsidiary of Thomson Reuters.
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