Trump to Criticize Global Institutions, Highlight Foreign Policy at UN Speech/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ President Donald Trump will address the UN General Assembly, attacking what he calls the failures of “globalist institutions.” His speech comes as wars in Gaza and Ukraine dominate global concerns and more nations recognize Palestine. Trump will promote his foreign policy record, hold key bilateral talks, and continue pursuing his Nobel Peace Prize ambitions.
Quick Look
- Event: Trump to address the UN General Assembly in New York.
- Main theme: Criticism of global institutions, promotion of “America First” foreign policy.
- Policy backdrop: U.S. has withdrawn from WHO, UN Human Rights Council, and is reviewing other memberships.
- Conflict focus: Gaza and Ukraine wars remain unresolved despite Trump’s promises to end them.
- Palestinian recognition: France joins the U.K., Canada, and Australia in recognizing a Palestinian state.
- Planned meetings: Trump to meet UN Secretary-General António Guterres, Ukraine’s Zelenskyy, EU leaders, and Arab officials.
- Military actions: U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear sites and Venezuelan boats raise human rights concerns.
- Political angle: Trump pushing for Nobel Peace Prize, touting his mediation record.
Deep Look
Trump Returns to the UN Stage
NEW YORK (AP) — President Donald Trump returns to the world stage on Tuesday with a high-profile speech at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), marking one of the most anticipated moments of the annual gathering. The White House says Trump will highlight what he views as his administration’s foreign policy achievements while sharply criticizing “globalist institutions” that he claims have undermined world order.
His remarks come amid a deeply unsettled international climate, as wars in Gaza, Ukraine, and Sudan rage on, nations grapple with the rise of artificial intelligence, and U.S. allies question Washington’s shifting role in global institutions.
Trump’s Clash With Global Institutions
From the outset of his second term, Trump has taken steps to distance the U.S. from key multilateral organizations. On his first day back in office, he withdrew from the World Health Organization (WHO). Soon after, he ended U.S. participation in the UN Human Rights Council and launched a sweeping review of U.S. involvement in hundreds of other international bodies.
“There are great hopes for it, but it’s not being well run,” Trump said of the UN last week, underscoring his longstanding skepticism of multilateralism.
Volatile Global Backdrop
Trump’s address comes at one of the most tense moments in the UN’s 80-year history. Analysts warn the institution itself is under strain. “This is by far the most stressed the UN system has ever been,” said Anjali K. Dayal, an international politics professor at Fordham University.
Compounding the tension are Trump’s recent decisions to use U.S. military force. In June, he ordered airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, and more recently, U.S. forces targeted alleged drug-smuggling boats in the Caribbean. Two Venezuelan vessels were struck fatally, sparking speculation that Trump may be seeking to destabilize President Nicolás Maduro’s rule. Critics argue the strikes amount to extrajudicial killings, bypassing international law and U.S. courts.
White House Preview of Speech
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Trump will frame his message around the “renewal of American strength” and his vision for restoring order to the international system.
“The president will touch upon how globalist institutions have significantly decayed the world order, and he will articulate his straightforward and constructive vision for the world,” Leavitt said.
After his address, Trump will hold one-on-one meetings with UN Secretary-General António Guterres, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and European Union leaders. He will also convene with leaders from Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Turkey, Pakistan, Egypt, the UAE, and Jordan.
Gaza and Ukraine Dominate
Two of the world’s deadliest conflicts — the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine — loom large over this year’s assembly.
Despite campaign pledges to quickly end both wars, Trump has struggled to deliver. His administration has focused on negotiating a ceasefire in Gaza tied to the release of the remaining 48 Israeli hostages, including 20 believed alive. Yet the conflict has expanded, and calls for Palestinian statehood recognition have grown louder.
On Monday, France officially recognized Palestine, joining the U.K., Canada, and Australia. The move adds momentum to an international push for a two-state solution, a campaign strongly opposed by both Washington and Tel Aviv.
Trump downplayed the recognition wave, calling it “just more talk.” He insisted his focus remains on hostages. “I’d like to see a diplomatic solution,” he said.
In Ukraine, Trump’s effort to broker direct talks between Putin and Zelenskyy has stalled. Russia intensified its strikes after Trump’s July summit with Putin in Alaska, showing no sign of compromise. European allies and even some U.S. Republicans are pressuring Trump to toughen sanctions against Russia.
Trump’s Nobel Peace Prize Aspirations
Amid the setbacks, Trump remains determined to cast himself as a global peacemaker. He has repeatedly claimed credit for ending or de-escalating “seven wars”, including conflicts involving Israel and Iran, India and Pakistan, and Armenia and Azerbaijan.
Though experts caution that Trump’s role in these cases is often overstated, the president has made no secret of his desire to secure the Nobel Peace Prize. Analysts suggest his quest may shape the tone of his UN speech.
“His speech will be driven by how much he really believes he has a chance,” said Mark Montgomery of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. “If he thinks it’s within reach, he’ll go softer. If not, he may take a more confrontational stance.”
Looking Ahead
As Trump prepares to host a reception for more than 100 world leaders on Tuesday evening, the stakes are high. For many leaders, the question is not only what Trump will say at the UN, but also whether his administration’s policies — skeptical of global institutions yet eager for recognition — will reshape the world order or deepen international fractures.
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