“Six years have passed since I last stood in this grand hall and addressed a world that was prosperous and at peace in my first term,” Trump told the U.N.’s annual leaders summit. “Since that day, the guns of war have shattered the peace I forged on two continents,” he said of the Russia–Ukraine and Israel–Hamas conflicts.

To that end, Trump asked the crowd what the purpose of the U.N. is, contending that it “has such tremendous potential” but that “it’s not even coming close to living up to that potential.”

“For the most part, at least for now, all they seem to do is write a strongly worded letter and never follow that letter up,” he said. It’s empty words, and empty words do not solve war. The only thing that solves war is action.”

LIVE UPDATES: WORLD LEADERS GATHER IN NEW YORK FOR 2025 UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Trump escalated his criticism, claiming that not only did he not receive a phone call from the U.N. as he tried to reach peace deals, but that the organization “is actually creating new problems,” particularly regarding immigration.

“All I got from the U.N. was an escalator that, on the way up, stopped right in the middle and a teleprompter that didn’t work,” he said. “The best example is the No. 1 political issue of our time — the crisis of uncontrolled migration. Your countries are being ruined. The U.N. is funding an assault on Western countries.”

Trump, who told the crowd, “Everyone says I should get the Nobel Peace Prize,” acknowledged the foreign policy challenges posed by the likes of Israel, Gaza, Russia, and Ukraine, in addition to Iran, North Korea, and Venezuela. At the same time, he underscored a new dynamic between the United States, Europe, and China.

Of Iran, Trump repeated that his position “is very simple: the world’s No. 1 sponsor of terror can never be allowed to possess the most dangerous weapon.”

Then, of Israel and Hamas, Trump reiterated that the terrorist organization should release its remaining hostages “now.”

Regarding Russia and Ukraine, Trump criticized China and India as “the primary funders” of the war because they continue to buy Russian energy before alleging that NATO allies are “funding the war against themselves” through similar oil purchases.

“In the event that Russia is not ready to make a deal to end the war, then the United States is fully prepared to impose a very strong round of powerful tariffs,” he said. “But for those tariffs to be effective, European nations would have to join us in adopting the exact same measures.”

Before he scrutinized climate change and renewable energy policies as “the greatest con job ever perpetrated on the world,” Trump also announced that his administration would “lead an international effort to enforce [the] Biological Weapons Convention, which is going to be meeting with the top leaders of the world by pioneering an AI verification system that everyone can trust.”

“I’m really good at predicting things,” he said. “During the campaign, they had a hat, a bestselling hat, ‘Trump was right about everything.’ And I don’t say that in a braggadocious way, but it’s true. I’ve been right about everything.”

At the start of the address, Trump appeared to enjoy a warm welcome, mentioning that the teleprompter was not working for his remarks as first lady Melania Trump, White House chief of staff Susie Wiles, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Energy Secretary Chris Wright, newly installed U.S. ambassador to the U.N. Mike Waltz, and Middle East special envoy Steve Witkoff looked on.

“Whoever is operating this teleprompter is in big trouble,” he said to laughs.

During U.N. Secretary General António Guterres’s own address to the U.N. General Assembly, he criticized cuts to foreign aid funding as “wreaking havoc” on advancements made since the U.N. was established 80 years ago.

“They are a death sentence for many,” Guterres said. “For so many more, a stolen future. This is the great paradox of our time. We have the solutions, but we are siphoning off the fuel that would make it possible to make progress. To choose dignity, we must choose financial justice and solidarity. We need to reform the international financial architecture so it drives development for all.”

Trump and the first lady arrived together on Tuesday at the U.N. headquarters, where they were greeted by U.N. officials and interested onlookers alike at the delegate entrance. Some observers waved to Trump, with the president responding with fist pumps after having to walk up an escalator that was not working.

Trump is expected to meet with Guterres and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky after his address and take part in a multilateral sit-down with Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Turkey, Pakistan, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, and Jordan.

“After these important meetings, the president will attend a reception tomorrow night with more than 100 world leaders before returning to Washington, D.C.,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said.

FRANCE OFFICIALLY RECOGNIZES PALESTINIAN STATE IN OPENING OF UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

The U.N. General Assembly’s High-Level Week opened on Monday with a special conference co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia on “the peaceful settlement and the implementation of the two-state solution,” during which France announced its formal recognition of Palestinian statehood.

“I declare that today France recognizes the State of Palestine,” French President Emmanuel Macron said. “The recognition of the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people takes nothing away from the rights of the people of Israel, who France supported from Day One and to the respect of which it is staunchly committed.”