US President Donald Trump questioned the purpose of the United Nations in his speech to the General Assembly, stating that the UN had “so much potential” that it hadn’t realized.
“Empty words don’t solve wars,” he remarked, seemingly accusing the body of inaction, while taking credit for saving “millions of lives” by stopping seven wars, though he did not specify which ones he was referring to.
“A dramatically better future is within our reach,” he said, but added that the world would have to leave behind “the failures of the past.”
In a series of statements, he addressed his and his wife’s physical fitness, his real estate acquisitions, and interior design, and made a joke about a teleprompter that stalled mid-speech.
He criticized Iran, calling it the “world’s number one state sponsor of terrorism,” and blamed Tehran for ending the nuclear deal that he withdrew from during his first term.
Trump also called on Hamas to release the Israeli hostages still believed to be held in Gaza, to mild applause. He added that “the war in Gaza has to stop.”
But he condemned recent announcements from Western nations recognizing Palestinian statehood, saying the moves are a “reward” for Hamas.
He criticized China and India for “funding the war in Ukraine” by continuing to do business with Russia, as well as European allies for continuing to buy Russian oil and gas.
He also called “uncontrolled migration” the greatest issue of the present age, and accused the UN of funding it, though he did not cite evidence for this claim.
