Trump branded the UN a “hotbed of hollow words

President Donald J. Trump unleashed a blistering critique of the United Nations on Tuesday, branding the 80-year-old institution an “ineffective relic” riddled with “empty words” that fail to stop wars or secure borders. Speaking to a stunned audience of world leaders at the 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York City, Trump didn’t hold back: “The UN has so much potential, but it’s not living up to it. I ended seven wars without a single phone call from the UN offering help.”

The address, his first major UN speech since 2020, was overshadowed by a cascade of technical glitches – from a stalled escalator stranding him mid-arrival to a teleprompter meltdown that forced him to ad-lib – which Trump cleverly (or conveniently) spun as metaphors for the organization’s broader dysfunction.

The scene unfolded like a high-stakes comedy of errors meets geopolitical showdown. As Trump and First Lady Melania arrived at UN headquarters around 10 a.m. ET, the couple stepped onto the iconic escalator only for it to grind to a halt midway up. Forced to hoof it the rest of the way, Trump later quipped during his speech, “We almost got stuck on that escalator – just like the UN gets stuck on everything else.” The mishap, captured on live feeds and instantly memed across social media, set the tone for an event that blended slapstick with sharp-elbowed foreign policy. By the time Trump took the podium at 11:15 a.m., the room buzzed with anticipation – and, for some, trepidation – knowing his track record of UN shade, from 2018’s “rocket man” barbs to 2019’s sovereignty sermons.

But nothing prepared delegates for the teleprompter fiasco that kicked off the address. Mere seconds in, the screen flickered and died, leaving Trump squinting at blank space. “I don’t mind making this speech without a teleprompter because the teleprompter is not working,” he deadpanned, pausing for laughter that was more nervous than genuine. “Whoever’s operating this teleprompter is in big trouble – big, big trouble.” A UN spokesperson later clarified that the White House team handled its own setup, but the glitch – compounded by bizarre audio overlaps where foreign-language translations briefly dubbed Trump’s words in real-time – fueled conspiracy theories online. X (formerly Twitter) lit up with posts like one from user @NeoGrokSudo: “From Glitch to Glory: Trump’s Unscripted UN Onslaught Amid Audio Anarchy… Tech glitches? No match for his bold vision! #TrumpUN.” Critics, however, weren’t buying the charm: @Nowran fumed, “This man is stark, raving mad. Do Americans not see how embarrassing this is?” citing reports that the issues stemmed from Trump’s own staff.

For Americans tuning in via C-SPAN or scrolling live updates on CNN and Fox News, the speech was a masterclass in Trump’s signature style: part boastful recap of “America First” triumphs, part scolding of global elites, all delivered with the improvisational flair of a Mar-a-Lago monologue. Clocking in at 57 minutes, it meandered through triumphs like the Abraham Accords (“I did that – no UN needed”) and fresh proposals, such as slapping tariffs on Russia to bankroll Ukraine’s full territorial reclamation. “Ukraine can get back every inch – with American leadership,” Trump declared, even floating the eyebrow-raising idea that NATO allies “shoot down Russian jets if they enter your airspace.” On the Middle East, he pushed for a U.S.-brokered Gaza ceasefire but slammed Palestinian statehood as “a reward for Hamas terrorism,” drawing murmurs from Arab delegates. And in a nod to domestic hot buttons, Trump touted U.S. energy independence: “We’re pumping more oil than ever – while Europe’s freezing because of your green fantasies.”

The real fireworks, though, exploded on immigration and climate – issues that hit home for American voters ahead of the 2026 midterms. Trump turned his ire on European allies, warning, “Your countries are going to hell” thanks to “open borders destroying your heritage.” He accused nations like Germany and France of inviting chaos by lax migration policies, tying it to rising crime and economic drag – echoes of his border wall battles that resonate with Rust Belt swing states. “America’s borders are secure because we put America first,” he contrasted, prompting sparse applause from his entourage while leaving others stone-faced. Climate change fared worse: “The greatest con job ever perpetrated on the world,” Trump scoffed, mocking wind farms as “bird killers” and predicting blackouts for green-obsessed Europe. For U.S. audiences grappling with wildfires in California and hurricanes in the Gulf, this was red meat for skeptics in red states, but a slap to coastal liberals pushing Biden-era green deals.

Trump’s UN takedown was surgical and savage. He lamented losing a U.S. bid to renovate the headquarters – “We could’ve fixed this place up nice” – before pivoting to the big picture: “Empty words don’t solve wars. I ended seven unendable conflicts in seven months – where was the UN?” Fact-checkers pounced post-speech. PolitiFact and The New York Times debunked the “seven wars” claim as inflated; Afghanistan dragged on post-withdrawal, and Yemen simmers unresolved. The Guardian tallied at least five “spurious claims,” from exaggerated peacemaking to misleading migration stats. Yet for Trump’s base – think MAGA heartlands from Ohio to Texas – these weren’t bugs; they were features. Fox News live blogs hailed it as “Trump’s fiery UN comeback,” with anchors like Sean Hannity praising the “unscripted energy” that exposed “globalist hypocrisy.”

Reactions poured in like a digital deluge, splitting along familiar fault lines. UN Secretary-General António Guterres offered a measured rebuttal in a post-speech presser: “Multilateralism isn’t perfect, but it’s essential – and the U.S. remains its backbone.” European leaders bristled; French President Emmanuel Macron’s office called the migration jabs “unhelpful and divisive,” while UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer tweeted a polite but pointed call for “constructive dialogue.” On X, semantic searches for “reactions to Trump’s UN speech” surfaced a polarized storm: Pro-Trump voices like @CyberSavant__ mocked, “The UN is literally laughing at Trump… Imagine being so fragile that a screen glitch exposes you,” while detractors amplified Raw Story headlines: “Trump gripes as glitches derail major UN speech.” One viral thread from @M_Hasanofficial decried it as a “diplomatic fiasco… more like a campaign rally,” warning of eroded U.S. credibility. American liberals, from CNN panels to TikTok rants, cringed at the “embarrassment,” with late-night hosts like Stephen Colbert already scripting monologues on the “escalator of doom.”

For everyday Americans, the speech lands amid pocketbook pressures and global jitters. With U.S. taxpayers footing 22% of the UN’s $3.5 billion budget – that’s over $700 million annually – Trump’s barbs tap into frustration over “wasted dollars” on what he calls a “talk shop.” Polls from Gallup, released Wednesday morning, show 58% of Republicans cheering the “tough talk,” versus 72% of Democrats viewing it as “damaging to alliances.” Independents? Split, with many praising the glitches-turned-jokes as “relatable chaos” in a buttoned-up world. Veterans’ groups lauded the Ukraine tariff idea as “innovative funding for freedom,” while environmental NGOs like Sierra Club slammed the climate denial as “reckless” amid record heatwaves.

As the dust settles on Day 2 of UNGA 80, Trump’s address ripples far beyond the East River. It signals a second-term blueprint: Unilateral U.S. muscle over multilateral hand-wringing, with tariffs as peace tools and borders as sacred lines. Critics fear isolation; supporters see strength. One X user summed it up: “Glitches or not, Trump just reminded the world who’s boss.” For Americans, it’s a Rorschach test – a glitchy mirror reflecting divisions on leadership, legacy, and what “great again” really means in a fractured globe.

What happens next? Side meetings today include Trump huddling with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Gaza, per Fox updates. Expect pushback: Colombia’s Gustavo Petro already blasted U.S. drug policies as “violent domination” in his slot. South Africa’s Cyril Ramaphosa echoed UN reform calls, slamming the Security Council as “undemocratic.” By week’s end, as limos ferry leaders back to JFK, one thing’s clear: Trump’s UN gauntlet has reignited debates on America’s role – from Capitol Hill budget hawks eyeing UN cuts to Wall Street eyeing tariff tremors.