President Donald Trump captivated and provoked world leaders with an unconventional address at the United Nations General Assembly on September 23, 2025. Returning to the global stage for the first time in his second term, Trump’s speech blended characteristic humor with a “blistering” critique of international norms and institutions. His distinctive rhetorical style, often punctuated by personal anecdotes, immediately drew laughter from the assembled dignitaries, setting an unusual tone for a high-stakes diplomatic engagement.
This address underscored Trump’s unique approach to foreign policy. It solidified his nationalist agenda and challenged the established order of global cooperation. Far from a mere series of jokes, his remarks served as a vehicle to convey profound dissatisfaction with the UN’s efficacy and to champion his administration’s controversial stances on immigration, climate change, and international conflicts.
Unscripted Moments: Teleprompters and Escalators Spark Laughter
From the moment he stepped onto the podium, President Trump’s remarks veered from the traditional script. Within moments, he drew widespread laughter by directly addressing a technical malfunction. “I don’t mind making this speech without a teleprompter because the teleprompter is not working,” he quipped. This unexpected aside, delivered with his signature bluntness, lightened the atmosphere. He suggested that speaking “more from the heart” was a silver lining. Trump then humorously warned the “in big trouble” teleprompter operator, eliciting more amusement from the world leaders present. While intended as a joke, external reports indicated he later relied on printed notes. This moment sparked significant public reaction, with some observers calling it an “embarrassing blunder” and others praising the operator for causing “good trouble.”
Later in his wide-ranging speech, Trump again employed a personal anecdote to connect with his audience and subtly convey a deeper message. He recounted an incident involving a broken escalator at the UN headquarters. He described how it “stopped right in the middle” while he was ascending with First Lady Melania Trump. He praised his wife’s “great shape” for preventing a fall, adding that “we’re both in good shape. We both stood.” He then linked these two frustrating experiences by concluding, “These are the two things I got from the United Nations: a bad escalator and a bad teleprompter.” These lighthearted complaints effectively set the stage for his more pointed criticisms of the international body.
A Blistering Critique of the United Nations
Beyond the comedic interludes, Trump utilized his platform to launch a direct and “hectoring” assault on the United Nations itself. He questioned its fundamental purpose and efficacy. He stated the UN possessed “tremendous potential but it’s not even coming close to living up to that.” Trump accused the world body of failing to genuinely assist his efforts in brokering peace deals across various conflicts. He claimed to have “ended seven wars” and engaged directly with global leaders without any UN support. He asserted he “never even received a phone call from the United Nations offering to help in finalizing the deal.”
He further derided the UN’s perceived inaction, characterizing its diplomatic efforts as merely writing “strongly worded letters.” He dismissed these as “empty words” that “don’t solve war.” Following a meeting with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Trump implied a need for significant leadership change within the organization. He suggested the UN “could be unbelievable with certain people running it.” These critiques resonated with his administration’s broader policy of curtailing international cooperation. This included previous withdrawals from the World Health Organization and the UN climate pact.
Reshaping Global Policy: Immigration and Climate Change
A central and fiery component of Trump’s speech focused on immigration, a cornerstone of his second-term nationalist agenda. He delivered a stark warning to European and other Western nations. He claimed they were “going to hell” due to their immigration policies. He urged the world to adopt his stringent approach, crediting it for his two U.S. election victories. Trump lambasted the UN for “funding an assault” on Western nations, explicitly describing migration as an “invasion.” He directly told European leaders their “countries are going to hell” if they continued their current trajectory, contrasting this with his administration’s perceived success in “shuttering the U.S.-Mexico border.” His criticism extended to a particularly sharp attack on London Mayor Sadiq Khan. Trump made the “extraordinary claim” that London desired to “go to sharia law,” labeling Khan a “terrible, terrible mayor.”
On climate change, Trump maintained his characteristically strident stance. He dismissed global efforts to combat climate change as a “green energy scam” and a “hoax.” He doubled down on his conviction that he was “right about everything” regarding his push for increased oil drilling and the reversal of green policies. He declared “Climate change — it’s the greatest con job ever perpetrated on the world,” reiterating a position that has consistently put him at odds with international consensus.
International Conflicts: Ukraine, Gaza, and NATO
Trump’s address also delved into pressing international conflicts, offering a harsh assessment of global responses and outlining his administration’s assertive stance. Regarding the war in Ukraine, he commented that the conflict was “not making Russia look good.” He urged Europe to join the U.S. in imposing “powerful tariffs” on Russia and to cease purchasing Russian oil. He even revealed his intention to contact Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán directly to persuade him to cut energy links with Moscow. Escalating his rhetoric further, Trump stated that NATO countries should “shoot down Russian aircraft” if they violate the alliance’s airspace, a position he affirmed unequivocally when questioned by reporters.
On the Middle East, particularly the ongoing conflict in Gaza, Trump declared that the recognition of a Palestinian state would serve as a “reward for Hamas.” He subsequently called for the immediate release of hostages taken from Israel on October 7, 2023. This stance contrasted sharply with some U.S. allies, like France and Britain, who have considered such recognition. Notably, French President Emmanuel Macron had previously suggested Trump could only achieve a Nobel Peace Prize by ending the Gaza war. Trump’s meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky after his speech further highlighted his assertive approach to global security, following an earlier summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin that failed to yield progress on the Ukraine conflict.
Economic Assertions and Factual Scrutiny
During his impactful speech, Trump proclaimed “the golden age of America,” making several specific claims about his administration’s economic performance. He asserted that “inflation has been defeated” and that “the only thing that’s up is the stock market.” Furthermore, he claimed that “grocery prices are down from when he took office.”
However, these economic claims faced immediate scrutiny and factual contradiction from external analyses. Reports explicitly stated that “Inflation, however, has risen slightly in recent months since the implementation of Trump’s tariffs,” directly refuting his assertion of inflation being defeated. Similarly, his claim about grocery prices was countered with specific data: “Grocery prices increased by 2.7% in August 2025 compared to one year prior, which marks the fastest monthly change since fall of 2022.” This presented a clear divergence between the President’s rhetoric and verifiable economic data, highlighting a key aspect of his communication strategy.
The Unconventional Reception at the UN
The reception to Trump’s 2025 UN General Assembly address marked a noticeable shift from his controversial 2018 appearance, where leaders reportedly laughed at him. This time, his “full-frontal attack” and “mostly about himself” message were met with “muted applause” and “near total silence” for significant portions. This indicated a deliberate and, at times, frosty response from the international community. One analysis characterized his address as an attempt to force global leaders to accept “Trump’s world and they are just living in it.” He claimed America was “respected again, like it has never been respected before,” implying this newfound respect was solely due to his presidency.
The summit itself operated under heightened security measures. Reports from the U.S. Secret Service detailed a disrupted plot by “nation-state threat actors” to potentially disrupt telecommunications around the UN. This added another layer of tension to an already fraught diplomatic gathering, underscoring the high stakes involved in Trump’s return to the world stage.
Trump’s Second Term Vision: A Nationalist Agenda
President Trump’s 2025 UN speech provided a clear articulation of his second-term vision: a nationalist agenda prioritizing American interests and actively curtailing certain forms of international cooperation. His address, coming after a series of policy shifts including severe reductions in U.S. development assistance and the imposition of sanctions on foreign judges, reinforced this direction. UN Secretary-General Guterres, opening the summit, issued a warning that U.S.-led aid cuts were “wreaking havoc” globally, directly contrasting with Trump’s self-assured rhetoric. This speech solidified his administration’s commitment to challenging established global frameworks, even as he offered “the hand of American leadership and friendship.”
Frequently Asked Questions
What were the primary policy points Donald Trump addressed in his 2025 UN speech?
In his 2025 UN General Assembly address, President Trump covered several key policy areas. He fiercely criticized current European immigration policies, labeling migration an “invasion” and suggesting countries were “going to hell.” He dismissed climate change efforts as a “con job” and a “hoax.” Regarding international conflicts, Trump proposed that NATO countries “shoot down Russian aircraft” violating airspace and stated that recognizing a Palestinian state would be a “reward for Hamas.” He also reiterated his administration’s focus on national sovereignty and reduced international aid.
How did world leaders react to President Trump’s unconventional address at the United Nations?
World leaders initially responded with laughter to President Trump’s humorous anecdotes about a broken teleprompter and escalator. However, as his speech progressed into “blistering” criticisms of the UN, immigration policies, and climate change, the atmosphere shifted. His “full-frontal attack” was largely met with “muted applause” and “near total silence.” This reception indicated a departure from previous UN appearances, reflecting a mixed sentiment of amusement, tension, and critical observation from the international community.
What impact did President Trump’s critiques have on the United Nations’ perceived role in global affairs during his speech?
During his speech, President Trump’s critiques directly challenged the United Nations’ perceived effectiveness and purpose. He accused the UN of failing to assist in global peace efforts, dismissing its actions as merely “empty words” and questioning its overall leadership. By highlighting the UN’s perceived irrelevance in practical conflict resolution and trivial matters like a broken escalator, he aimed to undermine its authority. This reinforced his broader nationalist stance, advocating for a reduced reliance on multilateral institutions and suggesting the UN had “tremendous potential but it’s not even coming close to living up to that.”
Conclusion
President Donald Trump’s address to the United Nations General Assembly on September 23, 2025, proved to be a defining moment of his second term on the global stage. It was a calculated blend of characteristic humor, pointed criticism, and a reiteration of his “America First” agenda. From the initial laughs drawn by teleprompter woes to his “blistering” denouncements of the UN, immigration policies, and climate action, Trump asserted a vision of global affairs that is both deeply skeptical of multilateralism and fiercely protective of national sovereignty. The speech, met with a mix of amusement and “muted applause,” undoubtedly left a lasting impression, signaling a continued era of unconventional diplomacy and a recalibration of America’s role in the world.
