TRANSCRIPT
The headline act on the first day of the general assembly, Donald Trump appeared pleased to be at the United Nations until he approached the escalator.
“An escalator that, on the way up, stopped right in the middle. If the First Lady wasn't in great shape, she would have fallen, but she's in great shape. We're both in good shape. We both stood.”
Most would consider this a minor inconvenience but it set the tone for his address.
“These are the two things I got from the United Nations - a bad escalator and a bad teleprompter.”
When he spoke here during his first term, leaders laughed at him.
This time, they laughed with him.
For a moment anyway.
“I can only say that whoever is operating this teleprompter is in big trouble." (Laughter)
Then the admonishing began.
He warned uncontrolled migration would lead to the ‘death of Western Europe.’
“It's time to end the failed experiment of open borders. You have to end it now. I can tell you. I'm really good at this stuff. Your countries are going to hell.”
He attacked the science of climate change...
“It's the greatest con job ever perpetrated on the world, in my opinion.”
… criticised allies who’ve recognised an independent Palestinian state...
“Instead of giving in to Hamas's ransom demands, those who want peace should be united with one message; Release the hostages now.”
… and once again claimed to have stopped seven wars, including one between Egypt and Ethiopia which never happened, while claiming the UN has done nothing to help achieve peace.
“For the most part, at least for now, all they seem to do is write a really strongly worded letter and then never follow that letter up.”
In years past leaders have used the general assembly podium to criticise the United Nations… but never before has a leader accused the body of actively supporting the people smuggling trade, or told their counterparts that their countries are going to hell.
Donald Trump's speech implied he sees the UN as an irrelevant, outdated institution but one that could be improved.
And just minutes after his fiery speech, his tone changed completely.
“Our country is behind the United Nations 100%. I think the potential of the United Nation is incredible. Really incredible. It can do so much.]]
The UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres responded.
“The United Nations, from me to our teams on the ground, to our missions, we are entirely at your disposal to be able to work together for A just peace in the world.”
Peace in Ukraine, Mr Trump says, is the hardest to achieve.
His latest sit-down with Volodymyr Zelenskyy was a friendly affair, with the Oval Office shout-fest now a distant memory.
“We support, Mr. President, your idea - I want to discuss it. How to stop some countries from Europe, how to stop the possibility to buy Russian oil and gas.”
Donald Trump said he’ll speak to his friend, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, and urge him to stop buying energy from Moscow.
But it was his answer to this question that will have caused real concern in the Kremlin.
“Mr President, do you think NATO countries should shoot down Russian aircraft if they enter their airspace?”
“Yes I do”
Whatever President Zelenskyy said to President Trump in private seems to have had an impact.
Posting on Truth Social he wrote: “I think Ukraine, with the support of the European Union, is in a position to fight and WIN all of Ukraine back in its original form. Putin and Russia are in BIG Economic trouble, and this is the time for Ukraine to act.”
President Zelenskyy noted the change:
“It's a big shift by President Trump?"
"It's a big shift, this post of Trump, it's a big shift.”
It was a whirlwind day of meetings, with the U-S President sitting with Arab leaders to discuss post-war Gaza ...
“We're here to see if we can get the hostages back and get the war over and get back to life. Life in the Middle East.”
… endorsing Argentina’s President, and debating Palestinian statehood with Emmanuel Macron.
“I think it honours Hamas, and you can't do that because of October 7th.”
“Nobody forgets the 7th of October.”
The US President tends to dominate day one of any General Assembly, but rarely to this degree.
Having launched a verbal assault on the UN, and seemingly shifting his position on a major conflict, Mr Trump left for Washington, leaving diplomats across New York breathing a sigh of relief.
