President Donald Trump pointedly criticized the United Nations and its members during a fiery speech on Tuesday, urging them to stop propping up the Iranian terror regime and its proxy Hamas, end their purchases of Russian oil, secure their porous borders—and fix Turtle Bay’s malfunctioning escalators.
During a nearly hourlong address before the U.N. General Assembly—the longest of his presidency—Trump chastised world leaders for appeasing despots and championing policies that endanger the global community. The president pressured international leaders to reject a Palestinian state, ditch the “green energy scam,” and crack down on mass migration. Even the United Nations’ New York headquarters faced Trump’s ire.
“These are the two things I got from the United Nations: a bad escalator and a bad teleprompter,” Trump said after running into multiple technical failures just ahead of his speech, including an escalator that stopped working as he and first lady Melania Trump approached it, and a teleprompter that went dark as he began speaking. “All I got from the United Nations was an escalator that, on the way up, stopped right in the middle.”
Here’s what President Trump is referencing about the escalator at the United Nations not working.
The escalator stopped when President Trump and First Lady Melania arrived to the venue: pic.twitter.com/BtpAfTDOUk
— Alex Salvi (@alexsalvinews) September 23, 2025
The line, though comedic, reflected a serious point from Trump: The United Nations doesn’t do anything right—or much of anything at all.
Trump touted his work to end “seven unendable wars,” referencing recent violence between Cambodia and Thailand, Pakistan and India, Israel and Iran, and Armenia and Azerbaijan, among others. “Sadly,” Trump said, “the United Nations did not even try to help in any of them.”
“It’s too bad that I had to do these things instead of the United Nations doing them,” he said. “The U.N. has such tremendous potential, but it’s not even coming close to living up to that potential, 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. It’s empty words, and empty words don’t solve war. The only thing that solves war and wars is action.”
TRUMP: “What is the purpose of the United Nations?”
“It has such tremendous, tremendous potential, but it’s not even coming close to living up to that potential.”
“All they seem to do is write a really strongly worded letter — and then never follow that letter up.”
“Empty… pic.twitter.com/seTUtRDUV7
— Fox News (@FoxNews) September 23, 2025
Trump also pushed back against a coordinated effort by European allies and Arab nations to unilaterally recognize a Palestinian state without any preconditions on Hamas. U.N. Security Council member Britain, along with Canada and Australia, jointly recognized a Palestinian state over the weekend, and the General Assembly session is expected to focus greatly on the issue.
“As if to encourage continued conflict, some of this body is seeking to unilaterally recognize a Palestinian state,” Trump said, adding, “The rewards would be too great for Hamas terrorists for their atrocities” on Oct. 7.
“Instead of giving in to Hamas ransom demands, those who want peace should be united with one message: Release the hostages now. Just release the hostages now.”
Trump stands firmly against the recognition of a ‘Palestinian state” — saying he doesn’t reward terrorism like that.
‘Release the hostages NOW,” Trump demands.pic.twitter.com/yywAJZUbiZ
— Marina Medvin 🇺🇸 (@MarinaMedvin) September 23, 2025
Trump also vowed Iran will never have a nuclear weapon on his watch, touting his administration’s successful operation with Israel earlier this year to destroy Tehran’s top atomic sites.
“The world’s number one sponsor of terror can never be allowed to possess the most dangerous weapon,” Trump said. “No other country on Earth could have done what we did. No other country has the equipment to do what we did.”
Iran, Trump noted, could have taken his deal to roll back its nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief, but the country’s hardline regime chose otherwise.
“The regime’s answer was to continue their constant threats to their neighbors and U.S. interests throughout the region, and some great countries that are right nearby today,” he said. “Many of Iran’s former military commanders, in fact I can say almost all of them, are no longer with us. They’re dead.”
TRUMP: “The world’s number 1 sponsor of terror can never be allowed to possess the most dangerous weapon.”
“Today, many of Iran’s former military commanders… are no longer with us — they’re dead.” pic.twitter.com/aDYWD8gZgX
— Fox News (@FoxNews) September 23, 2025
The president went on to float a proposal to sanction Russia’s energy trade over the war in Ukraine, but made clear these efforts will fail if European leaders continue doing business with Russian president Vladimir Putin.
“China and India are the primary funders of the ongoing war by continuing to purchase Russian oil,” he said. “But inexcusably, even N.A.T.O. countries have not cut off much Russian energy and Russian energy products.”
“Think of it,” Trump added, “they’re funding the war against themselves. Who the hell ever heard of that one?”
The United States is “fully prepared” to impose a “very strong round of powerful tariffs” on Russia, Trump said. “But for those tariffs to be effective, European nations—all of you are gathered here right now—would have to join us in adopting the exact same measures.”
