US President, Donald Trump has used his address at the UN General Assembly to deliver a sharp critique of the international organization, questioning it’s effectiveness and relevance in tackling global crises.
Speaking to world leaders and UN officials, Trump hailed his role in attempting to reach ceasefires in conflicts across the world but said the UN has failed to help him.
He claimed to have ended seven wars during his second term so far. He listed conflicts between Cambodia and Thailand; Kosovo and Serbia; Pakistan and India; Israel and Iran; Egypt and Ethiopia; Armenia and Azerbaijan; and the “vicious violent war” between DR Congo and Rwanda. He said that no other President has “ever done anything close to that.”
“It’s too bad I had to do those things instead of the United Nations doing them. Sadly, in all cases, the United Nations did not even try to help.”
Donald Trump
He also dismissively noted that the “two things I got from the United Nations: a bad escalator and a bad teleprompter.”
“That being the case, what is the purpose of the United Nations? I’ve always said the U.N. has such tremendous, tremendous potential. But it’s not even coming close to living up to that potential.
“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. It’s empty words and empty words don’t solve war.”
Donald Trump
Also, Trump spoke about his crackdown on “illegal” immigration – urging other countries to follow suit.
He thanked El Salvador “for the successful and professional job they’ve done in receiving and jailing so many criminals that entered our country.”
The Trump administration has come under fire and facing numerous legal challenges for its controversial and likely illegal practice of sending hundreds of migrants – mostly Venezuelans – to be detained in a notorious Salvadorian maximum security prison.
He accused the UN of “funding an assault on Western countries and their borders.”
“The UN is supporting people that are illegally coming into the United States, and then we have to get them out. The UN also provided food, shelter, transportation and debit cards to illegal aliens.”
Donald Trump
Trump appeared to be referencing the International Organization of Migration (IOM), which provides support for migrants in dangerous situations and seeks to help stem irregular migration by working with local states to create more humane legal pathways.
He appeared to be referring to the IOM’s assistance disbursement cards, through which they sometimes provide aid. The IOM also transports individuals based on local needs and coordination with governments, but do not aid individuals in irregularly migrating across borders.
Trump also accused several countries of taking part in an “open borders experiment”, despite all having strict migration laws.
“Your countries are going to hell. In America, we’ve taken bold action to swiftly shut down uncontrolled migration once we started detaining and deporting everyone who crossed the border and removing illegal aliens from the United States, they simply stopped coming.”
Donald Trump
Trump also hailed US military strikes on alleged drug smuggling in the Caribbean, which rights groups say constitute extra-judicial killings.
Trump Addresses Israel-Hamas, Russia-Ukraine Wars
Moreover, Trump noted in his speech that he has been “deeply engaged” in seeking a ceasefire in Gaza.
“We have to stop the war in Gaza immediately. We have to stop it. We have to get it done. We have to negotiate peace. We have to get the hostages back. We want all 20 back. We have to get them back now,” he said. “We want actually the 38 dead bodies back too.”
Donald Trump
Trump also argued that Hamas “has repeatedly rejected reasonable offers to make peace” – a claim rejected by the Palestinian group, which has repeatedly accused Israel of blocking a ceasefire agreement.
Additionally, Trump acknowledged that he thought it would be easier to end the war than it has proven to be, because his relationship with President Vladimir Putin “had always been a good one.”
He said that Russia’s war in Ukraine is “not making Russia look good.”
Later, he excoriated EU nations for continuing to buy Russian oil and gas. Trump threatened to hit Russia with “a very strong round of powerful tariffs” if Putin doesn’t come to the table to end its war in Ukraine.
He claimed that would “stop the bloodshed .. very quickly” but also suggested fighting will not end as long as China and European nations continue buying Russian energy.
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