Trump talks immigration, foreign affairs during first UN address of second term
President Donald Trump attended the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday, where he delivered his first address of his second term. World leaders from around the globe gathered in New York for the meeting.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt previewed the speech, saying he will highlight “the renewal of American strength around the world,” and address what the White House sees as successes so far in his second term.
Below are some of the main items Trump discussed during his address, which lasted just under an hour.
Trump shares his successes
Trump kicked off the speech addressing his last speech to the U.N. during his first term, at a time when he said the world was at peace. Now, Trump said that peace has been shattered.
“The guns of war have shattered the peace I forged on two continents,” Trump said.
He criticized his predecessor, former President Joe Biden, saying he created “four years of weakness, lawlessness and radicalism.”
Trump went to say the U.S. is improving into a Golden Age with shrinking energy costs, mortgage rates, grocery prices and others. He claimed “inflation has been defeated.”
“We’ve implemented the largest tax cuts in American history and the largest regulation cuts in American history, making this once and again the best country on earth to do business,” Trump said.
The president went on to say he’s doing the same thing he did in his first term, which was create the “greatest economy in the history of the world.”
Immigration in the US
He also took a moment to share how he’s addressing unauthorized immigrants in the U.S. Trump blamed Biden for allowing them to “pour in to our country with the ridiculous open border policy.” He claimed the migrants coming into the country without papers were drug dealers, formerly imprisoned or mental institutions from all over the world.
Trump personally thanked Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele for jailing several unauthorized immigrants. The jail at focus is the country’s notorious prison CECOT, where Kilmar Abrego Garcia said in July he faced torture. Abrego Garcia said in a court filing he endured beatings, sleep deprivation and psychological abuse from guards.
The president addressed foreign leaders saying “your countries are being ruined” because of immigration. He mentioned the recent immigration efforts in the U.S. saying, “I am really good at this tuff. Your countries are going to hell.”
Foreign affairs
Trump also claimed that as president, he has ended seven wars in his second term, saying the United Nations have not provided any assistance.
“It’s a shame I’ve had to do these things instead of the United Nations,” Trump said. “All I got from the United Nations is an escalator that stopped right in the middle … and then a teleprompter that didn’t work. These are the two things I got from the United Nations: a bad escalator and a broken teleprompter.”
The president addressed Iran and its nuclear capabilities. He announced a new effort to enforce the biological weapons convention. He said he wants “a cessation of the development of nuclear weapons.”
Trump also reiterated what he said on his recent trip to the U.K., saying there needs to be a ceasefire in Gaza and hostages need to be released.
He mentioned the war in Ukraine, calling for a ceasefire. The president also threatened tariffs on Russia, but only if Europe ends all of its oil and gas purchases. He said two weeks ago, he learned that European nations were still buying some Russian petroleum products.
Renewable energy
The president also talked about renewable or green energy, saying the “carbon footprint is a hoax.” He praised Germany for returning to nuclear energy and more fossil fuels.
He said, “all green is all bankrupt” and called climate change the “greatest con job” ever perpetrated on the world.
Growing isolation on the world stage
Trump’s appearance comes as he faces mounting isolation from U.S. allies over his foreign policy.
Since returning to office, Trump has slashed U.S. funding for U.N. programs, owes billions in back dues, and pulled support for humanitarian agencies, even as global crises grow.
The president has also doubled down on his refusal to recognize a Palestinian State, a stance he reaffirmed during a visit to the U.K. last week.
By contrast, France, Britain, Canada and others have now formally recognized Palestine. France and Saudi Arabia plan to host a peace conference in New York on Tuesday in support of the two-state solution.
Several close allies, including France, Britain, Canada and Australia, have formally recognized a Palestinian state.
Israel has strongly opposed the recognition effort. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned Sunday that a Palestinian state “will not be established west of the Jordan,” and pledged retaliation if recognition moves forward.
The United States will not participate in the conference, further underscoring Washington’s growing split from many of its closest allies.
Trump to meet with foreign leaders
Following his address at the U.N. General Assembly, Trump will meet with U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres, as well as leaders from Ukraine, Argentina and the European Union.
Leavitt said he will also participate in a multilateral meeting with Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Turkey, Pakistan, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and Jordan.
The post Trump talks immigration, foreign affairs during first UN address of second term appeared first on Straight Arrow News.
Ella Rae Greene, Editor In Chief
