In a wide-ranging and combative speech before the UN General Assembly on Tuesday, US President Donald Trump railed against climate change and told world leaders that their countries were “going to hell” due to their immigration policies. The 56-minute speech marked a strong rebuke of the world body and a return to form for Trump, who routinely criticized the UN during his first term.
Criticism of the United Nations Trump, who has cast himself as a peacemaker in a bid to win the Nobel Peace Prize, complained that the United Nations did not support his efforts to end global conflicts. “I ended seven wars, dealt with the leaders of each and every one of these countries, and never even received a phone call from the United Nations offering to help,” he said. He questioned the UN’s purpose, stating, “The UN has such tremendous potential… but it’s not even coming close to living up to that potential. All they seem to do is write a really strongly worded letter and then never follow that letter up. It’s empty words, and empty words don’t solve war. The only thing that solves war and wars is action.”
Following the speech, however, Trump struck a softer note in a meeting with the UN chief, saying, “Our country is behind the United Nations 100pc… I may disagree with it sometimes, but I am so behind it.”
Key Themes and Remarks Much of his speech was dominated by two of his biggest grievances: climate change and immigration. President Trump called climate change a “con job” and urged a return to greater reliance on fossil fuels, mocking renewables as a “joke.” He insisted that the “carbon footprint is a hoax made up by people with evil intentions, and they’re heading down a path of total destruction.” He called wind technology “so pathetic, so bad” and boasted about “unleashing” massive efforts to drill for new oil, gas, and coal reserves. “Immigration and their suicidal energy ideas will be the death of Western Europe,” he added.
Trump also mocked NATO allies for continuing to purchase Russian oil, stating, “They’re funding the war against themselves. Who the hell ever heard of that one?” He warned that if Russia is not ready to make a deal to end the war, the United States is “fully prepared to impose a very strong round of powerful tariffs.”
Scientists and world leaders reacted sharply to the US president’s comments. Rachel Cleetus of the Union of Concerned Scientists said, “President Trump and his administration continue to spew lies and disinformation about climate science and the overwhelming benefits of clean energy, a grave disservice to the American people.” She argued that “Climate change is here, it’s costly, and people need real solutions, not propaganda designed to boost the profits of fossil fuel polluters.”
