TL;DR: At the 2025 UN General Assembly, President Trump criticized global migration and climate policies, called climate change a "con job," and threatened new tariffs on Russia unless Europe adopts similar measures. He rejected a Palestinian state amid the Gaza conflict and pushed for a ceasefire-for-hostages deal. His 56-minute speech combined sharp rebukes of world leaders with personal complaints about the UN.
Trump at UN General Assembly: Key Points from Combative Speech (Sept 23, 2025)
What Happened
- U.S. President Donald Trump delivered a 56-minute speech at the United Nations General Assembly, criticizing world leaders on migration, energy policy, and international cooperation.
- Trump declared, "Your countries are going to hell," referencing immigration and climate policies.
- Leaders in the chamber responded with polite applause; the tone of the speech marked a return to Trump’s first-term confrontational style.
Ukraine and Russia
- Trump threatened new tariffs on Russia if it refuses to negotiate an end to the war in Ukraine.
- Urged European nations to adopt identical economic measures, saying, "They’re funding the war against themselves."
- Suggested possible sanctions on countries trading with Russia, including India and China.
- When asked whether NATO should shoot down Russian aircraft in NATO airspace, Trump said, "Yes, I do."
Immigration and Asylum
- Trump promoted his U.S. immigration crackdown as a model and linked migration to national decline.
- Announced plans to push for narrowing international asylum rights at the UN later this month.
- Quote: "Immigration and their suicidal energy ideas will be the death of Western Europe."
Climate Change
- Trump dismissed climate change as a "con job" and advocated a return to fossil fuels.
- His comments contrast with a recent meeting with King Charles, who is focused on climate issues.
Israel-Palestine
- Trump rejected calls to recognize a Palestinian state amid the Gaza conflict.
- Quote: "The rewards would be too great for Hamas terrorists, for their atrocities."
- Pushed for a ceasefire-for-hostages deal and held follow-up meetings with Gulf leaders.
Other Remarks and Incidents
- Trump criticized UN infrastructure, saying: "These are the two things I got from the United Nations, a bad escalator and a bad teleprompter."
- Claimed inflation in the U.S. was defeated, despite Federal Reserve data showing it recently rose.
- Repeated a false claim that London Mayor Sadiq Khan wants to impose “sharia law.”