Trump's Speech at the UN Brings Up Controversial Points

US President Donald Trump spoke about many issues at the UN General Assembly on Tuesday.

His speech lasted about 35 to 37 minutes and touched on international conflicts, the global economy, migration, artificial intelligence, and US foreign policy.

He praised some US actions, including the war in Iran and the tough sanctions on Cuba.

He also took shots at the UN and some international groups for supposedly going against US interests. Some of his remarks created controversy and got people talking.

Iran War

One worrying statement from Mr Trump during his address to leaders from 154 countries was the threat to "annihilate" Iran and "drive them into hell" if the Iranian government did not agree to a deal.

This is just one of many threats by the US President that hint at wiping out the whole country, since the war that he said would last only a few weeks began. He made this statement at the UN, which aims to keep international peace and security.

His comment also suggests more attacks on civilians and civilian areas. PREMIUM TIMES reports that a UN mission recently found that the US committed war crimes in Iran. Mr Trump’s statement goes beyond just Iran’s military leaders or nuclear sites, which he previously claimed were his main targets.

Iran sees these threats as a sign of "strategic desperation."

Criticism of UN

Mr Trump also focused his attacks on the UN and its structure. He criticized the UN, which is based on cooperation among nations, for becoming too bureaucratic and influenced by "globalist bureaucrats."

"The United Nations has great, great potential. I’ve said that for many years. But it must stop imposing the far-left agenda of globalist bureaucrats who nobody ever elected," he said.

He praised the budget cuts and staff reductions at the UN during his time in office. Mr Trump said the US helped cut the UN budget by 15 percent in 2026. This move, under the UN80 reform initiative, led to over 4,000 job losses.

This happened during tough financial times partly caused by funding cuts and delays from the US under Mr Trump’s ‘America First’ policy. He also criticized the UN Human Rights Council and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO).

He accused these organizations of focusing too much on the US and promoting "mass migration and actively destroying the greatest cultures."

Artificial Intelligence

A big part of his speech was about artificial intelligence (AI), which Mr Trump said should be called "superintelligence."

"The use of the word artificial makes intelligence fake," he claimed. "It is not fake. It’s actually amazing."

The US president said being a leader in technology will be key to economic and geopolitical competition in the future.

Criticism of ICC

At the assembly, Mr Trump called the International Criminal Court a rogue institution and its members an "evil group of people."

He told all ICC members to resign. Mr Trump has often shown his dislike for the court. His opposition is partly due to the arrest warrant issued for his ally, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, over Israel’s violent actions in Gaza.

Last year, the US asked the ICC to change its founding document, the Rome Statute, to stop it from investigating Netanyahu and his officials. The US threatened to sanction the court if it did not comply. The US is not part of the Rome Statute.

Since 2025, the US has imposed several sanctions on the ICC and its officials. It has also announced plans to impose more sanctions on the court.

US Foreign Policy

The US leader described his foreign policy approach during his first two years back in office as using American power to tackle "decades of intractable challenges."

He bragged about solving issues that past US leaders could not.

"I do not believe in letting problems fester. They only become harder to solve. So while others have talked, I have acted," he claimed.

"While others have promised strength, I have used it to make America the most powerful country in the world."

War in Gaza

He also highlighted what he sees as his achievements since taking office in January 2025. One of these is ending the war in Gaza. This is not true as Israel continues to attack Gaza, killing many people.

Mr Trump said his administration ended the war through a ceasefire started in October 2025 and a US-brokered peace plan.

He praised his administration for securing a ceasefire-hostage release deal and for forming the Board of Peace, which is meant to oversee the rebuilding of Gaza.

"We ended the war in Gaza. We are saving untold thousands of lives. We also brought home all remaining hostages, both living and dead, every single one of them," he said.

But PREMIUM TIMES reports that this ceasefire has been broken several times since it started.

The Gaza Ministry of Health estimates that at least 1,402 Palestinians have died and 4,881 others have been injured in Gaza since Mr Trump’s ceasefire because of ongoing Israeli attacks.

Mr Trump also claimed he ended eight wars during his first year in office. This includes the war in Gaza.

He mentioned other countries whose issues he claims to have settled: Cambodia and Thailand, Kosovo and Serbia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Rwanda, Pakistan and India, Armenia and Azerbaijan.

His claims have been proven false.

Cuba

Mr Trump also addressed Cuba in his speech. The country has faced US sanctions for over 60 years. The US has openly said it wants to change Cuba’s government.

The Trump administration increased pressure this year with an oil blockade that left the country in darkness and worsened its economic struggles.

At the meeting, Mr Trump called Cuba a failed state.

He said, "My administration is also seeking a fundamental change in the situation in Cuba, where the communist regime is under great pressure, the biggest pressure they’ve ever been under. It’s an absolutely failed state; it’s failing like never before, and it will fall.

"Communism will never be coming to America, but freedom will be coming to Cuba."

Venezuela and the Western Hemisphere

On the matter of Venezuelan President Nicholas Maduro's abduction in January, Mr Trump said, "To the victor belong the spoils."

He defended US actions there as proof that his government would not allow any outside influence in the Americas.

Mr Trump claimed that the US is now collaborating with Venezuelan leaders for what he called "a much better future for the Venezuelan people."

He also announced a major oil deal between the two nations, while stating that Washington and Caracas now control 60 percent of the world’s oil.