U.S. President Donald Trump delivered a contentious speech at the United Nations General Assembly in New York on September 26, 2023, lasting nearly an hour. His remarks, characterized by a series of criticisms directed at the institution and global leaders, sparked significant backlash from both foreign diplomats and U.S. politicians.
During the address, Trump described the United Nations as ineffective, criticized global migration policies, and dismissed climate change as a “hoax” and “the greatest con job ever perpetrated on the world.” He asserted that many countries were “going to hell,” a declaration that drew immediate concern from attendees. One foreign diplomat expressed disbelief to The Washington Post, stating, “This man is stark, raving mad. Do Americans not see how embarrassing this is?”
Trump’s speech appeared aimed at reinforcing his political base rather than engaging with world leaders. Ned Price, former State Department spokesperson and deputy U.S. ambassador to the UN, dismissed the address, stating, “Let’s not pretend this is a foreign policy speech or dignify it by calling it one. This is basically MAGA madlibs.” Price emphasized that Trump was addressing his campaign supporters while disregarding the diplomatic audience present.
Further criticism came from Senator Chris Van Hollen of Maryland, who stated that Trump “just embarrassed our country in front of the entire world at the U.N.” He called for greater leadership from allies who uphold the rule of law, human rights, and democracy, urging collective action in response to Trump’s remarks.
In his speech, Trump positioned himself as the primary problem-solver on the global stage, asserting, “It’s too bad that I had to do these things instead of the United Nations doing them.” He repeated a false claim that he had single-handedly resolved seven “unendable wars,” suggesting that this achievement warranted a Nobel Peace Prize.
Trump’s controversial statements were met with fierce rebuttals. The London mayor’s office condemned his inaccurate assertion that the city was succumbing to Sharia law, labeling it “appalling and bigoted.”
Following his address, Trump took to Truth Social, where he praised his speech as “very well received.” He noted that it focused significantly on energy and migration issues and attempted to frame the challenges he faced during the speech as contributing to its engagement factor, mentioning a broken teleprompter and a malfunctioning escalator.
As reactions continue to pour in, Trump’s UN speech stands as a pivotal moment in his ongoing relationship with both domestic and international audiences. The implications of his rhetoric could affect the United States’ diplomatic standing and partnerships moving forward.
