President Donald Trump delivered a lengthy and pointed speech at the 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), raising concerns about ongoing conflicts in Gaza, Sudan, and Ukraine, and taking aim at his predecessor, Joseph Biden, political opponents, and some NATO allies that have recognized a Palestinian state.
Trump criticized the United Nations, claiming that while he had helped resolve global conflicts, the UN had failed to take meaningful action.
“The core mandate of the UN is to keep nations and people together and help solve conflicts, but it has relented, allowing nations to attack each other without active intervention,” he said.
He also addressed hostages in Gaza, urging that “all the hostages back in Gaza should be freed,” and critiqued other nations’ green energy policies, arguing that agendas set by some countries could adversely affect the United States.
On environmental sanitation, Trump singled out China for dumping waste into oceans, contrasting it with U.S. practices where even cigarette butts are properly disposed of.
Trump called on the UN to focus on bringing nations together, stopping wars, promoting peace, defending individual and religious rights, and protecting nations without discrimination. He further claimed that Christianity is among the most persecuted religions worldwide.
In his opening remarks, UN Secretary-General António Guterres highlighted the dangerously chaotic state of the world but emphasized that unity and diplomacy remain critical for global stability.
“People everywhere are demanding something better, and the UN owes them action deserving of their trust,” he said.
Guterres also addressed climate change, a key focus of his agenda, and outlined his ambitious UN restructuring plan, known as UN80.
The UN Security Council is set to convene back-to-back sessions on the wars in Gaza and Ukraine later in the day, with many foreign ministers in attendance.
Source: Ohene Amponsah, UNGA, New York
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