On September 23, 2025, the 47th President of the United States, Donald Trump, addressed every member of the United Nations in New York City. The President had several things to say to the UN. These things include on-going conflicts, immigration, and questioning the overall purpose of the United Nations.
Before the speech, two unusual incidents drew media attention. According to NBC News, an escalator carrying President and First Lady Melania Trump briefly stopped, nearly causing a fall. The UN later reported that a U.S. videographer was responsible for shutting off the escalator, possibly as an act of protest. The Times, a British newspaper, cited screenshots of online users joking about the incident beforehand. Additionally, ABC News reported that the teleprompter malfunctioned moments before Trump’s speech, though the President continued without it.
Moving onto the important topics from Trump’s speech, one topic is regarding the many conflicts that Trump has claimed to have ended. This included Ethiopia/Egypt, Israel/Iran, Thailand/Cambodia, India/Pakistan, The Democratic Republic of the Congo/Rwanda, Armenia/Azerbaijan, and lastly Kosovo/Serbia. Another topic that was brought up during the speech was Trump’s push back on every nation who decided to recognize the state of Palestine as a country. Trump stated, “it is awarding Hamas and terrorism.” Not only this, but the President of the United States also had asked his European counterparts to step up against Russia as the war rages on in Ukraine.
According to Newsmax, the President had also discussed the issues with migration. For years, Europe has been gaining a vast majority of immigrants from Africa and the Middle East, while the United States has dealt with immigration regarding Central America and South America. Trump called for all nations to take decisive action regarding immigration, and for them to follow his lead in containing “illegal immigration.”
As for the UN’s purpose, Trump has also criticized the UN for not doing enough to protect human rights. He argued that his administration’s peace efforts have received little UN recognition or support.
Supporters of the President praised the speech for its strong, America-first stance and emphasis on accountability within international institutions. Critics, however, viewed his remarks as overly confrontational and argued that they risk undermining global cooperation.
In closing, Trump highlighted his belief that the United States must prioritize its own interests in global trade and diplomacy, stating, “The United States has been taken advantage of by much of the world—but not anymore.”
