US President Donald Trump delivered a scathing critique of the United Nations, saying the institution isn’t working for peace and mocking the quality of its headquarters building.
Trump addressed the UN General Assembly on September 23, 2025, and claimed the organization has “tremendous potential” but isn’t living up to it.
The UN has such tremendous potential, Trump said, but it’s “not even coming close to living up to it”. He complained about a broken escalator and teleprompter at the New York headquarters, joking that the people responsible were “in big trouble”. Trump asserted that “empty words don’t solve war”, emphasizing the need for action over rhetoric.
Trump’s criticism of the UN centered on its perceived failures in maintaining global peace. He claimed personal credit for major diplomatic achievements, stating “I ended seven wars without any help from the United Nations”. The UN, he said, is proficient at writing letters but not at taking action to end conflicts. Trump demanded that Hamas release all remaining hostages immediately to reach peace.
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres warned that aid cuts led by the US are “wreaking havoc” in the world. Guterres emphasized the need for global cooperation and laws, asking “what kind of world will we choose? A world of raw power or a world of laws?” Trump’s speech reflects his skepticism of multilateral institutions and his reliance on direct power politics.
Trump’s address to the UN General Assembly was marked by controversy, with criticism of the organization’s handling of migration and climate change. He accused the UN of “funding an assault” on Western countries through migration, describing it as “totally unacceptable”. Trump also denounced efforts to reduce global warming, calling climate change concerns “the greatest con job ever perpetrated on the world”.
Trump’s comments drew sharp contrast with the UN’s mission and highlighted the ongoing debate over the organization’s effectiveness. As the US president, Trump has pulled the US out of several UN organizations and imposed sanctions on foreign judges. The US owes the UN around $1.5 billion, exacerbating funding shortfalls that have forced the organization to plan for a 20% budget cut in 2026.
