By Joke Kujenya
STRENGTH OF America framed the opening words of President Donald J. Trump’s address to the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), where he declared the United States as the nation with “the strongest economy, the strongest borders, the strongest military, the strongest friendships, and the strongest spirit of any nation on the face of the earth.”
Calling this period “the Golden Age of America,” he pressed his case for national sovereignty over globalism while challenging the United Nations on its effectiveness.
During the nearly hour-long speech, President Trump underscored his government’s approach to border control.
“Four months in a row, the number of illegal aliens admitted and entering our country has been zero,” he said.
“Our message is very simple: If you come illegally into the United States, you’re going to jail or you’re going back to where you came from.”
He detailed what he described as an unprecedented record on peace initiatives. “In a period of just seven months, I have ended seven ‘un-endable’ wars,” Trump stated.
“No President or Prime Minister – and for that matter, no other country – has ever done anything close to that. It’s too bad that I had to do these things instead of the United Nations doing them – and sadly, in all cases, the United Nations did not even try to help.”
Criticising the United Nations directly, Trump asked, “What is the purpose of the United Nations? The UN has such tremendous potential… All they seem to do is write a really strongly worded letter, and then never follow that letter up. It’s empty words — and empty words don’t solve war.”
Turning to recognition of Palestine, Trump was clear. “Now, as if to encourage continued conflict, some of this body is seeking to unilaterally recognize a Palestinian state.
“Instead of giving in to Hamas’s ransom demands, those who want peace should be united with one message: release the hostages now.”
The president addressed global energy and trade issues, singling out certain nations. “China and India are the primary funders of the ongoing war by continuing to purchase Russian oil – but inexcusably, even NATO countries have not cut off much Russian energy,” he said.
He further noted that “the countries that followed the rules, all their factories have been plundered by countries that broke the rules. That’s why the United States is now applying tariffs to other countries.”
On terrorism and security threats, Trump issued direct warnings. “My position is very simple: the world’s number one sponsor of terror can never be allowed to possess the most dangerous weapon,” he said. “To every terrorist thug smuggling poisonous drugs into the United States of America, please be warned — we will blow you out of existence.”
He also called for a global stance on biological weapons. “Today, I’m also calling on every nation to join us in ending the development of biological weapons once and for all,” Trump stated.
Immigration remained a central theme.
He declared, “Not only is the UN not solving the problems it should, too often, it is actually creating new problems for us to solve… The United Nations is funding an assault on Western countries and their borders.
The UN is supposed to stop invasions, not create them and not finance them.” Trump continued, “What makes the world so beautiful is that each country is unique – but to stay this way, every sovereign nation must have the right to control their own borders.
When your prisons are filled with so-called ‘asylum seekers’ who repaid kindness with crime, it’s time to end the failed experiment of open borders.
Any system that results in the mass trafficking of children is inherently evil – yet that is exactly what the globalist migration agenda has done.”
On climate change, Trump was equally blunt. “I’m telling you that if you don’t get away from the ‘green energy’ scam, your country is going to fail,” he said.
“The entire globalist concept of asking successful, industrialized nations to inflict pain on themselves and radically disrupt their entire societies must be rejected completely and totally – and it must be immediate.”
Referring directly to climate policies, he added: “Climate change – it’s the greatest con job ever perpetrated on the world.”
The president tied his comments to broader values.
“Together, let us defend free speech and free expression. Let us protect religious liberty, including for the most persecuted religion on the planet today – it’s called Christianity.”
Trump dismissed accolades in favour of what he described as real results. “Everyone says that I should get the Nobel Peace Prize… but for me, the real prize will be the sons and daughters who live to grow up with their mothers and fathers because millions of people are no longer being killed in endless and un-glorious wars. What I care about is not winning prizes, it’s saving lives.”
His criticism extended beyond policies to operational aspects of the UN itself. He remarked on faulty equipment at the headquarters, stating: “These are the two things I got from the United Nations: a bad escalator and a bad teleprompter.”
Trump’s speech took place against the backdrop of wider debate within the General Assembly.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres had earlier warned that United States-led aid cuts were “wreaking havoc” worldwide.
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva warned against “anti-democratic forces” targeting institutions, while noting he and Trump exchanged greetings and agreed to meet.
Trump also confirmed a scheduled meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, marking his second direct engagement since meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska in August, a summit that broke Moscow’s isolation but produced no resolution.
The address was delivered as security remained tight in New York.
Ahead of the speech, the United States Secret Service disclosed it had disrupted a telecommunications shutdown plot involving “nation-state threat actors” during the UN summit.
Throughout his remarks,
Trump reiterated that “a dramatically better future is within our reach – but to get there, we must reject the failed approaches of the past and work together to confront some of the greatest threats in history.”
