NEW YORK , U.S. President Donald Trump delivered a blistering speech at the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday, attacking the institution itself, condemning migration policies, and dismissing climate change as “the greatest con job ever perpetrated on the world.”
Speaking before world leaders in New York, Trump painted a picture of Western societies under siege from what he described as “unchecked migrant invasions,” while mocking European reliance on renewable energy and branding the UN “inefficient, corrupt, and outdated.”
“Mass migration is ruining the West. Nations that fail to defend their borders will not survive as nations at all,” Trump declared, drawing sharp reactions from European delegations.
Read Also:UK experts dismiss Trump team’s claim linking paracetamol in pregnancy to autism
The Republican front-runner renewed his longstanding climate scepticism, insisting that fossil fuels must remain central to the global energy mix. “Windmills and solar panels cannot power the future,” he said. “The green agenda is crippling Europe while America thrives on coal, oil, and gas.”
Trump also courted controversy by turning his fire on London, claiming the city was sliding into “Sharia law” under its mayor, Sadiq Khan. The remarks were quickly condemned in the UK as inflammatory.
On foreign policy, Trump pledged unwavering support for Ukraine, saying he believed Kyiv could reclaim all occupied territory with NATO and EU backing. He was equally forceful on the Middle East, condemning recent recognition of Palestinian statehood by some European allies. “Rewarding Hamas with statehood is a betrayal of Israel and of peace itself,” he said, while urging hostage releases as a condition for any negotiation.
The speech also touched on religion and free speech, with Trump describing Christianity as “the most persecuted religion on the planet” and urging nations to defend freedom of expression.
In a major policy signal, Trump announced that the United States would halt its contributions to the UN’s regular budget, diverting funds instead toward bilateral programs that he argued delivered “real results for the American people.” The move, if enacted, would significantly undermine UN operations at a time of growing global instability.
Reactions were swift. European leaders criticized Trump’s rhetoric as divisive and damaging, while conservative allies praised his hardline stance. Environmental groups blasted his climate remarks as “dangerously out of touch,” and human rights campaigners warned that his comments on migration risked inflaming xenophobia.
The fiery speech underscored Trump’s strategy of using the UN platform to advance his nationalist agenda — while casting himself as a disruptor in global diplomacy. With the 2025 U.S. election cycle looming, his words were as much aimed at the international community as they were at voters back home.
