US President Donald Trump took the stage at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on Tuesday, delivering a sweeping and controversial address that touched on a range of topics, including foreign policy, climate change, immigration, and national security. The speech, lasting well over 45 minutes—nearly three times his allotted 15-minute slot—combined Trump’s characteristic self-promotion with factually disputed claims and bold pronouncements.

From taking credit for ending global conflicts to criticizing nations over immigration policies and energy purchases, Trump’s address left the world watching a mix of familiar rhetoric and new provocations. Here’s a detailed look at his speech, its claims, and the responses it elicited.

• Opening Remarks: The Broken Teleprompter

Trump began his UNGA speech by addressing a technical glitch, noting that his teleprompter was not functioning.

“I don’t mind making this speech without a teleprompter, because the teleprompter is not working,” he said. “I feel very happy to be up here with you, nevertheless. And that way, you speak more from the heart. I can only say that whoever is operating this teleprompter is in big trouble.”

A UN official clarified that the teleprompter was operated by the White House, not the UN. Following the speech, UNGA President Annalena Baerbock reassured attendees: “As we are receiving queries, I would like to assure you that, don’t worry, the UN teleprompters are working perfectly.”

Despite the technical hiccup, Trump quickly shifted into his familiar critique of the previous US administration.

• Trump Slams Biden and Boasts of “America in its Golden Age”

Trump wasted no time targeting his predecessor, Joe Biden.

“Six years have passed since I last stood in this grand hall and addressed a world that was prosperous and at peace in my first term,” he said. “Since that day, the guns of war have shattered the peace I forged on two continents, an era of calm and stability gave way to one of the great crises of our time, and here in the United States, four years of weakness, lawlessness, and radicalism under the last administration delivered our nation into a repeated set of disasters.”

Trump has also made personal attacks against Biden, calling him a “son of a bitch” and questioning his character.

Despite critics pointing out that the US economy was healthy at the end of Biden’s term, Trump claimed America was in a “golden age.”

“One year ago our country was in deep trouble… but just eight months into my administration, we’re the hottest country in the world. This is indeed the golden image of America,” Trump said.

He also asserted that inflation had been defeated and that energy and grocery prices were trending down, though these claims were contradicted by Federal Reserve chief Jerome Powell and multiple economic indicators. Trump has previously mused about firing Powell over concerns about tariffs and inflation risks.

Trump at UNGA: Climate change— it's the greatest con-job ever perpetrated on the world. pic.twitter.com/0vOknp9M2O— Mintel World (@mintelworld) September 23, 2025

• Taking Credit for Ending 7 Wars, Including India-Pakistan

A major highlight of Trump’s speech was his claim of ending global conflicts.

“I ended seven wars. And in all cases, they were raging, with countless thousands of people being killed. This includes Cambodia and Thailand, Kosovo and Serbia, the Congo and Rwanda, Pakistan and India, Israel and Iran, Egypt and Ethiopia, and Armenia and Azerbaijan,” Trump said.

He lamented that he had to resolve these conflicts himself rather than relying on the United Nations:

“There’s never been anything like that. Very honoured to have done it. It’s too bad that I had to do these things instead of the United Nations doing them.”

However, several countries have disputed these claims. India, in particular, repeatedly stated that the May clashes with Pakistan ended through bilateral military discussions, with no US mediation involved. Nevertheless, Trump’s supporters have hailed him as a “peace president,” even suggesting he deserves a Nobel Peace Prize, an award he has frequently referenced with apparent personal ambition.

• Pressure on Russia, China, and India Over Ukraine

Trump used the platform to address Russia’s war in Ukraine, targeting nations that continued to trade with Moscow.

“China and India are funding the war in Ukraine. Some NATO nations are also doing this. Some European nations are purchasing oil from Russia and fighting it. It’s embarrassing,” he said.

The US president warned of imposing a new round of heavy tariffs on Russia if it refused to end the conflict: “In the event that Russia is not ready to make a deal to end the war, then the United States is fully prepared to impose a very strong round of powerful tariffs.”

Trump also criticized European nations for continuing to import Russian energy, despite US pressure:

“For those tariffs to be effective, European nations – all of you are gathered here right now – would have to join us in adopting the exact same measures. You have to immediately cease all energy purchases from Russia. Europe has to step it up.”

Trump’s policies toward India included doubling tariffs on imports to 50 percent, after Washington objected to India’s continued Russian oil purchases. India retaliated, emphasizing national interest and drawing red lines in agriculture and dairy sectors. Chinese officials accused the US of behaving like a “big bully” in the trade dispute.

While Trump portrays Europe as failing to act, EU trade data shows that the European Union’s imports of Russian LNG actually increased by 9 percent in 2024, though overall trade with Russia fell from €257.5 billion in 2021 to €67.5 billion ($77.9 billion) in 2024.

The UN has not been there for us as a country. For months, @POTUS brokered peace in major world conflicts without any help being offered to him.

The UN has tremendous potential, but it is not living up to it. Strongly worded letters are just empty words. Actions end wars. pic.twitter.com/fhvLmJceQK— Secretary Marco Rubio (@SecRubio) September 23, 2025

• Immigration and Border Policies: “You’re Destroying Your Countries”

Trump criticized nations with more lenient immigration policies than those under his administration, warning that they were “destroying your countries.”

“They’re being destroyed. Europe is in serious trouble. They’ve been invaded by a force of illegal aliens like nobody’s ever seen before. Illegal aliens are pouring into Europe,” he said.

Trump described his own immigration approach as decisive: “Once we started detaining and deporting everyone who crossed the border, and removing illegal aliens from the United States, they simply stopped coming.”

He also praised El Salvador for effectively handling migrants: “El Salvador has done a successful and professional job in receiving and jailing so many criminals that entered our country.”

Experts note that while US border apprehensions dropped from about 60,600 in August 2024 to roughly 8,200 in July 2025, they have not reached zero, contradicting Trump’s claims.

• Iran, Gaza, and Middle East Policy

Trump highlighted US military action and diplomacy in the Middle East.

“Three months ago, in Operation Midnight Hammer, seven American B-2 bombers dropped 30,000-pound bombs each on Iran’s key nuclear facility, totally obliterating everything. No other country on Earth could have done what we did,” he claimed.

He further asserted that his actions helped broker an end to the Israel-Iran military clashes in June, though Iranian officials reported no irreversible damage occurred, and the sites had been evacuated in advance.

Regarding Gaza, Trump called for an immediate cessation of hostilities: “We have to stop the war in Gaza immediately. We have to get it done. We have to negotiate peace. Hamas needs to return the hostages immediately. We want all 20 back. We have to get them back now. We want actually the 38 dead bodies back too.”

Trump criticized countries recognizing a Palestinian state, warning that it would “reward Hamas terrorists for their atrocities.” Hamas responded, stating they were not obstructing peace talks, while Israel’s Prime Minister Netanyahu remained unwilling to commit to a full withdrawal.

• Climate Change and Green Energy: “The Greatest Con Job”

Continuing his long-standing criticism of climate science, Trump said, “Climate change – because if it goes higher or lower, whatever the hell happens, there’s climate change… It’s the greatest con job ever perpetrated on the world, in my opinion.” He argued that past warnings about global cooling and warming had been inconsistent and politically motivated, dismissing scientific consensus on human-driven climate change.

“If you don’t get away from this green scam, your country is going to fail, and I’m really good at predicting things,” he warned.

Trump also attacked green and renewable energy initiatives, calling them a threat to national success, and reiterated his previous claims that windmills cause cancer and that climate change is a hoax orchestrated by China.

• London, Sharia Law, and Domestic Politics Abroad

Trump took aim at London Mayor Sadiq Khan, claiming without evidence that Khan was attempting to impose Sharia law in the city.

“It’s really a different country, you can’t do that,” he said.

His remarks reflected a broader pattern of critiquing foreign leaders’ domestic policies while advocating for stricter immigration and law enforcement standards globally.

• Drug Policy and Military Strikes

Trump defended controversial US strikes on boats allegedly carrying Venezuelan drug traffickers:

“People don’t like taking big loads of drugs in boats anymore… We’ve virtually stopped drugs coming into our country by sea. Each boat that we sink carries drugs that would kill more than 25,000 Americans. We will not let that happen.”

He also labelled multiple drug cartels and gangs as foreign terrorist organizations, including MS13 and Tren de Aragua. Experts question the legality of these strikes and note that most fentanyl in the US is trafficked through Mexico, not Venezuela.

• Criticism of the UN

Trump expressed frustration with the United Nations, calling it largely ineffective.

“These are the two things I got from the United Nations, a bad escalator and a bad teleprompter,” he quipped.

“I didn’t think of it at the time because I was too busy working to save millions of lives… But later, I realised that the United Nations wasn’t there for us. What is the purpose of the United Nations? The UN has such tremendous potential… but for the most part, at least for now, all they seem to do is write a really strongly worded letter and then never follow that letter up.”

A Controversial Address

Trump’s UNGA speech was a mixture of assertive foreign policy declarations, strong domestic rhetoric, and controversial claims, some of which were factually inaccurate or exaggerated. From taking credit for ending multiple wars to condemning nations for immigration policies, energy purchases, and climate change initiatives, the speech underscored Trump’s distinctive approach to diplomacy: confrontational, self-promoting, and deeply polarizing.

Whether lauded by supporters as a decisive and patriotic leader or criticized as reckless and misleading, Trump’s address at the UNGA was a vivid reminder of his unorthodox style on the global stage—one that continues to draw attention, debate, and, in many cases, controversy.

With inputs from agencies

Image Source: Multiple agencies

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