US President Donald Trump delivered a combative speech at the United Nations General Assembly on September 23, 2025, lashing out at the UN, Europe, and international climate policies. In his first appearance at the world body since returning to the White House, Trump questioned the very purpose of the UN, accusing it of being ineffective and failing to resolve major global conflicts.
Trump reserved some of his sharpest words for migration, a theme central to both of his election victories. He claimed the UN was funding what he called an “assault” on Western nations and warned European leaders that their countries were “going to hell” if they continued to allow large-scale immigration. He urged nations to adopt stricter border policies similar to those he has pursued in the United States.
Climate policy was another major target of Trump’s address. Dismissing scientific consensus, he described climate change as “the greatest con job ever perpetrated on the world” and criticized European governments for prioritizing green energy at the expense of their economies. He repeated his push for oil drilling and the rollback of environmental regulations, insisting he had been “right about everything.”
On foreign policy, Trump accused the UN of offering only “empty words” in the face of wars in Ukraine, Gaza, and elsewhere. He criticized NATO members for not taking stronger action, suggesting they should shoot down Russian planes that violate their airspace. He also condemned recognition of a Palestinian state by US allies such as France and Britain, describing it as a “reward” to Hamas for its attacks on Israel.
The president’s remarks came after a summer of controversial diplomacy, including a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska that broke Moscow’s isolation but failed to deliver peace. On the sidelines of the UN summit, Trump met again with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, pledging continued support but also pressing for European nations to do more.
Trump’s rhetoric drew sharp contrast with UN Secretary-General António Guterres, who had opened the summit by warning that global aid cuts — many of them led by the US — were “wreaking havoc” for vulnerable communities. Guterres called for stronger international cooperation, while Trump suggested that the UN could only be “unbelievable” under different leadership.
Beyond the speeches, the summit was marked by tight security in New York, with armed police patrolling the UN district. The US Secret Service reported it had disrupted a plot to interfere with telecommunications around the UN, allegedly involving foreign state actors.
