President Trump at the 80th United Nations General Assembly: A Eulogy for America and a Dressing-Down for the Rest of the World
A stalled escalator on the way up and a malfunctioning teleprompter, which later came back to life, left President Donald Trump unimpressed as he visited the United Nations Headquarters in Midtown Manhattan to address the 80th UN General Assembly on 23 September 2025. The 47th President of the US had to read from his notes at times, but was thereby able to “speak more from the heart”, to a stupefied global audience, having last done so as 45th President before the 73rd UN General Assembly on 25 September 2018. A re-energised President did not hold back as he launched on a 56-minute tirade, during which took pot shots at many of his pet hates. To begin with, Trump bitterly lamented the state of the world, which had been “prosperous and at peace” during his first term and has since faced “one of the great crises of our time.” Thanks to his stewardship, in his second term, America has once again entered into a “golden age”, as it rises out of “four years of weakness, lawlessness and radicalism” under the Biden administration to regain its position as the “hottest country” in the world.
With inflation defeated, as reflected in lower energy costs, cheaper food and petrol prices, and lower mortgages, the economy is recovering, just as the stock market hits a “record high.” Furthermore, “manufacturing is booming” and workers’ wages are rising. Record investment in the world’s “greatest economy”, to the tune of $17 trillion, has been facilitated by “the largest tax cuts and the largest regulation cuts in American history.” Trump has indeed outperformed significantly in comparison to his first term.
America is safe once again, as “illegal aliens” receive their marching orders from the US and others intending to follow in their footsteps are barred from entry. Ex-President Biden’s “ridiculous open door” policy is being reversed. The authoritarian Central American state of El Salvador received special mention for taking on many “criminals” who are being repatriated from America.
On the world stage, Trump is making waves. NATO members have been persuaded to spend 5% of their GDP on defence. In the Middle East, he is rebuilding partnerships with Saudi Arabia and the Gulf States. Several “historic trade deals” have already been concluded. He has also ended seven “unendable” wars, including those between India and Pakistan, and between Iran and Israel!! One of these wars has been going on for as long as 36 years. Reassuringly, he no longer cares about the Nobel Peace Prize-his mission is just about “saving lives”, which is best achieved by actions and not mere words.
The United Nations failed Trump’s scrutiny on the day, beginning with the escalator and the teleprompter. With some justification, he criticised the ineffectiveness of the UN, which has failed to live up to its “tremendous potential.” He was particularly unhappy that the UN had not taken him up on an earlier offer of rebuilding the headquarters for $500 million, complete with marble floors (vs terrazzo) and mahogany walls (vs plastic), and instead spent much more for an inferior end-result. In Trump’s opinion, the UN has created more problems than it has solved, including uncontrolled migration and “invasions” by illegal aliens which are destroying Europe, where Sharia law is taking over. All countries need to follow the example of America, which “belongs to the American people.” Instead, they are “going to hell” under the pressure of “illegal arrivals” who are bringing in their own customs and religions and filling up prisons in their host countries. The US has shown the world the way forward, having stopped all migration through its southern border, across which 25 million people arrived over the four years of the Biden administration. Trump is particularly proud of his work on addressing the mass trafficking of children.
Iran, “the world’s number one sponsor of terror”, refused to cooperate and has paid the price, as the US has killed many of its military commanders and demolished its nuclear enrichment capability in Operation Midnight Hammer. Trump is opposed to the unilateral declaration of Palestinian statehood as this would reward Hamas terrorist for their atrocities. It is right that he has demanded the release of all hostages forthwith. His position on Ukraine vis a vis Russia has shifted, although it is not clear if his position will be sustained or lead to any meaningful American intervention. Nevertheless, China, India, and the NATO countries have been criticised for buying Russian oil and thereby funding the war. Trump came out against biological weapons, which are already banned under the Biological Weapons Convention, and nuclear weapons. It must be remembered America was the first to manufacture nuclear weapons and the only country to use them in combat.
The drug cartels are facing justice, as “transnational gangs” such as MS-13 and Tren de Aragua and their drug trafficking networks are being destroyed by the US military. It’s the War on Drugs again, being played out on a much larger scale than before.
Very much in keeping with his well-known views as climate change denier, Trump severely criticised the “stupid” predictions of global warming, which is the “greatest con job ever perpetrated on the world.” Renewables are “a joke”, “don’t work”, and are “too expensive.” Green energy is a “scam”, which favours “polluting countries that break the rules and make a fortune.” It’s back to oil, gas, and “clean, beautiful coal”, and out with wind, not just in America but also in the UK and elsewhere. As the largest energy exporter in the world, the US wants to “help nations”, in a “far and reciprocal” manner, and not be taken advantage of by the rest of the world.
The law-and-order president is also busy tackling crime, not only in the nation’s capital, which was happened to be “the crime capital of America”, but also in New York City (and other Democrat-run cities). Nowadays, he feels much safer in these crime hotspots, which is of course welcome news.
Trump had to mention the great benefits of tariffs, which are not merely tools of trade, bringing in billions of dollars into the economy, but are also defending America’s sovereignty and the rights of US citizens. A 39-second interaction at the UN with President Lula of Brazil, currently facing 50% tariffs on exports, even convinced him that the Brazilian was a “nice man”, one he could do business with in future and maybe renegotiate the tariffs.
Trump spoke at some length and with great passion, taking well over the normally allocated time of 15 minutes to convey his many messages. This was not the speech of a dignified statesman, more that of a triumphant salesman. It was like a stream-of-consciousness performance, thankfully delivered in colloquial English. The key themes included those of American exceptionalism, ultranationalism, immigration control, peace-making, climate change denial, and a crusade for Christianity (“the most persecuted religion on the planet today”), complete with lashings of lavish and unqualified self-praise and references to his expertise in property development. Trump’s speech will be remembered for a long time to come, but not necessarily for the right reasons, by his millions of followers, for whom America is now in ‘safe hands’ and ready to celebrate the 250th anniversary of independence next year.
Ashis Banerjee