The United States President, Donald Trump took a swipe at the United Nations, suggesting the international body has failed to deliver meaningful results.
He made the allegations while addressing the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Tuesday 23 September, 2025, in a characteristically blunt address.
He didn’t mince words. With a touch of trademark sarcasm, Trump remarked that the only things he’s ever gotten from the UN were “a bad escalator and a broken teleprompter.” The jab, half-serious and half-joking, drew some awkward chuckles – but the underlying message was anything but lighthearted.
Trump questioned the organization’s relevance, especially when it comes to resolving global conflicts. He suggested the UN was largely absent during what he claimed were successful efforts by his administration to bring an end to various international wars. While he didn’t name specific conflicts, the implication was clear: he sees his own actions as decisive, and the UN’s as ineffective.
“What is the purpose of the United Nations?” he asked, looking directly at the assembly.
He followed up with one of his sharper critiques: “It’s not even coming close to living up to its potential… it’s empty words, and empty words don’t solve wars.”
While critics might argue that Trump often oversimplifies complex international issues, his frustration with multilateral institutions isn’t new. Throughout his presidency, he has repeatedly voiced skepticism about global organizations, painting them as bloated, inefficient, and out of touch with the needs of sovereign nations – especially, in his view, the United States.
As the speech wrapped up, it was clear Trump wasn’t there to make nice. Instead, he used the platform to challenge the UN’s role in modern diplomacy, essentially asking: if it can’t help prevent or end wars, then what ‘is’ it doing
