United Nations : Trump UNGA speech 2025 made global headlines as Donald Trump launched a sharp attack on the United Nations and criticised key allies for what he called “unfair burden-sharing.” His remarks at the General Assembly highlighted his tough stance on global governance and foreign policy.
Speakers before and after him challenged his criticism from the same podium.
“What is the purpose of the UN?” he asked. “All they seem to do is write a really strongly worded letter and then never follow that letter up. It’s empty words, and empty words don’t solve war,” he said.
“It’s not even coming close to living up to that potential,” he added.
As if to prove his claim about the UN’s inefficiency, the escalator jerked to a halt while he was on it, and the teleprompter failed.
Trump argued that the UN gave him a platform to speak directly, then launched into a rambling address that sounded more like a domestic election stump speech.
The speech stretched to 57 minutes, far beyond his 15-minute slot.
He touted the stock market record, efforts to stop illegal immigration, and tariffs. Promising to restore what he called “the greatest economy in the history of the world,” he claimed he had built it during his first term.
Former President Joe Biden came in for sharp criticism.
Amidst his attacks, Trump unveiled one positive proposal: a plan to ban biological weapons.
“To prevent potential disasters, I’m announcing today that my administration will lead an international effort to enforce the Biological Weapons Convention,” he said.
Trump also vowed to convene a meeting of world leaders to stop the development of bioweapons using artificial intelligence.
“If bioweapons were used, there would be no United Nations to talk about, there would be nothing,” he warned.
Without directly naming China, he blamed the COVID pandemic on “reckless experiments overseas” with biotech.
Earlier speakers defended the UN in anticipation of his criticism.
General Assembly President Annalena Baerbock argued that without the UN’s International Civil Aviation Organisation, leaders could not attend the summit safely.
Secretary-General Antonio Guterres reminded members that the UN began as a shield for cooperation over chaos, law over lawlessness, and peace over conflict. The world now faced a choice between “raw power or laws, self-interest or unity,” he warned.
Indonesia’s President Prabowo Subianto said the UN helped his country achieve independence and later supported its development and poverty eradication.
Trump also targeted illegal immigration, saying it hurt not only the US but also spread across Europe.
European allies drew sharp criticism for failing to act firmly against Russia.
In a warning, he claimed some European countries were “going to hell” because illegal immigration disrupted their societies.
According to him, London was falling under Sharia law.
Trump declared that Christianity faced persecution.
“The world must defend free speech and free expression. We must protect religious liberty, including for the most persecuted religion on the planet today. It’s called Christianity,” he said.
To highlight UN inefficiency, Trump said he once offered to renovate the UN headquarters for $500 million, but officials rejected it and chose contractors who went over budget and delivered inferior work for several billion dollars.
He denied the existence of a global climate crisis and urged reliance on carbon fuels instead of wind power.
Trump imposed punitive tariffs on Brazil for prosecuting his ally, former President Jair Bolsonaro, who tried to stage a coup.
Yet during his speech, he embraced Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who had spoken before him, and offered to meet him next week.
–IANS
