US President Donald Trump has delivered a scathing attack on the United Nations and Europe, warning that Western countries are “going to hell” due to migration and dismissing climate change as a “con job”.
Trump’s remarks came during his speech at the UN General Assembly, where he criticized the UN for funding an “assault” on Western nations that he described as an “invasion”.
Trump’s fieriest words were reserved for migration, as he advised the world to follow his lead on one of the core political messages that drove his two US election victories. He claimed that Europe is being “invaded” by migrants and accused the UN of financing this “invasion”. Trump cited statistics on foreign nationals in European prisons, claiming 50% of inmates in Germany and 54% in Greece are foreign nationals.
The US leader also criticized the UN for failing to get involved in what he claims are seven wars that he has ended or tried to end, including Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and Israel’s war in Gaza. Trump lambasted the UN for only issuing “really strongly worded letters” instead of taking concrete actions to resolve conflicts. He said, “What is the purpose of the United Nations? It has tremendous potential, but it’s not coming close to living up to that”.
Trump’s speech was met with near total silence from fellow leaders, with UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres having previously warned that aid cuts led by the US were “wreaking havoc” in the world. Trump appeared to call for a change in leadership at the UN, telling reporters, “The UN could be unbelievable with certain people running it”.
Trump’s comments on migration and climate change reflect his broader skepticism towards global institutions and his focus on nationalist policies. He has moved to pull the US out of the World Health Organization and the UN climate pact, severely curtailed US development assistance, and wielded sanctions against foreign judges over rulings he sees as violating US sovereignty.
Trump’s speech at the UN General Assembly highlighted his vision for a more assertive US foreign policy, prioritizing national interests over global cooperation. His remarks drew a clear distinction between his approach and that of the UN, setting the stage for potential future conflicts between the US and the international community.