U.S. President Donald J. Trump delivered a combative and sweeping speech at the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, sharply criticizing immigration policies, the effectiveness of the UN, and the global climate agenda. He also voiced strong support for Ukraine and held high-profile sideline meetings with several world leaders.
“Open Borders Are a Failed Experiment”
In his address, Trump warned against what he described as the dangers of uncontrolled migration, calling open-border policies a “failed experiment” and accusing European nations of compromising their cultural identity. “Your countries are going to hell,” he told world leaders, according to eyewitness accounts from the assembly floor.
He urged national governments to reclaim control over their borders, traditions, and values, framing immigration as a threat to sovereignty.
Criticism of the UN and Multilateralism
Trump used technical issues at the UN — including a malfunctioning escalator and broken teleprompter — as metaphors to criticize the institution itself, questioning its overall impact on global security. “What is the point of the United Nations?” he asked, suggesting the organization rarely achieves anything beyond issuing “a pathetic letter or two.”
Climate Policy: “A Global Scam”
The president dismissed international climate initiatives as part of what he called a “green scam.” He argued that many global warming narratives are driven by political or economic motives rather than science, taking aim at green energy policies in Europe and beyond.
Ukraine, Russia, and the Path Forward
On the war in Ukraine, Trump expressed confidence in Ukraine’s ability to reclaim all territory lost since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022 — provided continued support from the European Union and NATO. He said Ukraine is “in a position to fight and take back all of its land.”
Citing Russia’s economic instability, Trump described Moscow’s prolonged war as “dishonorable” and said it portrays the Kremlin as a “paper tiger.” He added that Russian citizens will eventually face the consequences of the war, pointing to fuel shortages and economic pressure at home.
“Now is the time for Ukraine to act,” Trump said, emphasizing that with patience and Western support, restoring Ukraine’s original borders is realistic. “Why not?” he added.
Support for NATO and Military Aid
Trump confirmed that the U.S. would continue supplying arms to NATO, noting that it would be up to the Alliance to determine how to use them. He also said NATO member states should shoot down any Russian aircraft that violate their airspace.
Meetings on the Sidelines
During the assembly, Trump met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. In that meeting, Trump again praised Ukraine’s resilience and highlighted the deteriorating state of the Russian economy. “Ukraine is doing a pretty amazing job resisting a much larger army,” he said.
Trump also held a brief but friendly interaction with Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva after Lula’s speech. Describing their rapport as “excellent chemistry,” Trump revealed that they plan to meet again next week.
Following the encounter, Brazil’s financial markets responded positively: the real strengthened by 1% against the dollar, and the Bovespa index climbed to a record high.
Mixed Reactions from Allies
Some European leaders responded favorably to Trump’s statements — particularly his criticism of energy dependence on Russia. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen acknowledged the issue, noting that the EU has already cut gas imports and phased out Russian coal. However, she admitted that some oil supplies from Russia still enter the European market.
Trump’s remarks on immigration and the UN drew mixed responses from diplomats, with some officials defending multilateral cooperation while others privately agreed with the need for institutional reform.
