At the UN General Assembly, US President Donald Trump called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, dismissed climate change as the “greatest scam,” and claimed credit for averting wars, including between India and Pakistan, while criticizing Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Trump opened his speech by demanding an urgent end to the conflict in Gaza, where Israel’s military campaign has killed more than 65,000 Palestinians.
“We have to stop the war in Gaza immediately. We have to stop it,” Trump said. “We have to get it done. We have to negotiate peace.”
He stressed the return of hostages, saying: “We want all 20 back… We want actually the 38 dead bodies back too.”
The president accused Hamas of rejecting peace offers, a claim denied by the Palestinian group, which blames Israel for blocking ceasefire efforts. He also criticized Western nations’ recent recognition of a Palestinian state, calling it a “reward” for Hamas’ October 7 attacks.
Climate change: ‘The greatest con job ever perpetrated’
Trump shifted focus to climate policy, repeating his long-standing dismissal of climate science.
“This climate change, it’s the greatest con job ever perpetrated on the world, in my opinion,” he said. “No more global warming, no more global cooling. All of these predictions… were made by stupid people that have cost their countries fortunes.”
He accused the green energy transition of driving nations into economic collapse, praising Germany for returning to fossil fuels and nuclear power after what he described as a failed “green experiment.”
His remarks came as the UN urged updated climate pledges, warning that warming-driven ocean changes, extreme weather, and wildfires are unfolding faster than expected.
Russia-Ukraine War: ‘It did not turn out that way’
On the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Trump said Moscow’s war has backfired.
“Everyone thought Russia would win that war in three days. It was supposed to be a quick little skirmish. It did not turn out that way. It is making Russia look bad,” he said.
Trump criticized Europe for buying Russian oil and gas despite the war, and accused China and India of indirectly funding Russia by continuing energy imports. He admitted learning only recently that NATO countries also failed to cut off Russian products.
India-Pakistan conflict: Trump claims he prevented war
Trump also highlighted what he called his personal record in diplomacy.
“In seven months, I ended seven unendable wars. Some lasted 31 years, one 36, one 28 — Cambodia & Thailand, Kosovo & Serbia, Congo & Rwanda, Pakistan & India, Israel & Iran, Egypt & Ethiopia, Armenia & Azerbaijan,” he said.
Without providing details, he claimed his intervention helped prevent a dangerous escalation between India and Pakistan.
Harsh criticism of UN
Throughout his address, Trump sharply criticized the UN’s effectiveness.
“What is the purpose of the United Nations? They write strongly worded letters and never follow them up. Empty words don’t solve wars,” he said.
He mocked the UN by referencing “a bad escalator and a bad teleprompter” at its headquarters, insisting that while he saved “millions of lives,” the UN “did not even try.”
Trump added that he once bid $500 million to rebuild the UN complex with “marble floors and mahogany walls,” but the organization chose a more expensive plan that suffered massive overruns.
Venezuela, Iran, and migration
Expanding beyond major wars, Trump vowed to use the “supreme power of the US military” to destroy Venezuelan trafficking networks led by Nicolás Maduro, warning: “We will blow you out of existence.”
On Iran, he said he offered full cooperation if Tehran suspended its nuclear program, but claimed the offer was refused.
Trump accused the UN and International Organization for Migration (IOM) of “funding an assault on Western borders” by supporting migrants with food, shelter, and debit cards. He said immigration is “destroying countries” and must be stopped.
Trump’s self-portrait: Nobel claims and US recovery
Arguing that his diplomacy deserves a Nobel Peace Prize, Trump said: “It’s too bad I had to do these things instead of the United Nations.”
He described America under his leadership as entering a “Golden Age,” contrasting it with what he called the “weakness and disasters” of Joe Biden’s administration. He claimed inflation, gas prices, and mortgage rates are down while stock markets hit record highs, though official data shows consumer prices recently rose at the fastest pace in seven months.
