President Donald Trump used his return to the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday to castigate the institution as ineffective, warning that it was “not even coming close to living up” to its potential. In a speech that mixed praise for his own leadership with sharp criticism of others, Trump portrayed himself as both peacemaker and strongman, while warning that Europe risked ruin if it continued embracing what he called the “double-tailed monster” of unchecked migration and misguided green energy policies.
The hourlong address was vintage Trump: grievance-laden, self-congratulatory, and unapologetically “America First.” He declared the United Nations filled with “empty words” that failed to solve wars, even as he reassured Secretary-General Antonio Guterres afterward that the U.S. remained “100%” behind the institution. “The potential for peace at this institution is great,” he said, despite having just scolded it as feckless.
Trump touted his administration’s record on energy, immigration, and military action, warning that Europe was courting disaster by welcoming migrants and pouring money into costly renewable projects. “I love the people of Europe,” he said, “but this double-tailed monster destroys everything in its wake, and they cannot let that happen any longer.” The remark drew groans and uneasy laughter from delegates.
Throughout the speech, Trump contrasted his claim of American renewal with criticism of global leaders, declaring that some nations were “going to hell” under poor leadership. He praised U.S. military strikes on Iran and Venezuela-linked smugglers while blaming “globalists” for weakening strong countries. At the same time, he lamented wars in Gaza, Ukraine, and Sudan, positioning himself as the leader willing to end conflicts where the United Nations had failed.
Trump’s remarks came as the U.N. wrestled with multiple crises, including efforts to recognize Palestinian statehood. France had just joined the list of nations backing a two-state solution, a move Trump dismissed as rewarding Hamas. On Ukraine, he mocked Russia’s prolonged war as a “quick little skirmish” gone wrong and threatened “a very strong round of powerful tariffs” unless Vladimir Putin moved to end the conflict.
Even as he sharpened his rhetoric against Moscow, Trump made clear he believed the U.N. had failed in nearly every major hotspot of the past decade, from the Middle East to Africa and Asia. He rattled off conflicts he claimed to have ended or defused, hinting again at his desire for a Nobel Peace Prize. “Everyone says I should get the Nobel,” he said, before adding, “but for me, the real prize will be the sons and daughters who live to grow up because millions of people are no longer being killed in endless wars.”
The performance underscored the tension in Trump’s foreign policy: demanding loyalty to American strength while scorning international institutions he insists he supports. For allies and adversaries alike, the message was unmistakable—the United States, under Trump, will set its own course, even if the world body he derided continues to watch from the sidelines.