Shibbir Ahmed, New York — U.S. President Donald Trump used his address to the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday to defend his administration’s military actions abroad, warn Iran of further escalation if it does not reach a peace agreement, and call for an end to the war in Ukraine. In a roughly 37-minute address at the 81st session of the UN General Assembly in New York, Trump outlined his foreign-policy priorities, including Iran, Ukraine, Venezuela, Cuba, Mexico, artificial intelligence and reform of the United Nations.
Trump strongly defended the U.S.-Israeli military campaign against Iran, saying the operation had prevented Tehran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. He warned that the United States could “annihilate” Iran if a peace agreement is not reached, while also saying he believes a deal could be reached after the U.S. midterm elections on Nov. 3.
“I believe we’ll make a deal right after the election because it doesn’t make sense for them not to,” Trump said. Trump also addressed the Russia-Ukraine war, saying the United States was working with both Moscow and Kyiv and expressing confidence that a settlement could be reached.
“We will get that one done,” Trump said, adding that an agreement could come sooner than many people expect. The president also highlighted U.S. actions in Venezuela and the wider Western Hemisphere. He said Washington would not allow threats against the United States to establish a foothold in the region and said the country would use its military power when necessary to protect what he described as vital U.S. national interests.
On Cuba, Trump described the country as a failed state and said his administration was seeking fundamental political change there. “Communism will never be coming to America, but freedom will be coming to Cuba,” he said. Members of the Cuban delegation walked out of the General Assembly hall while Trump was discussing Cuba, Reuters reported.
Trump also criticized Mexico over drug-cartel violence and described the fight against cartels as a major U.S. security priority. He said his administration had carried out strikes against cartel groups and argued that the United States needed to take stronger action against organizations it considers terrorist threats.
Artificial intelligence was another major theme of the speech. Trump said his administration would use the term “super intelligence” rather than artificial intelligence in official communications and argued against international restrictions that could limit technological development.
He said the United States was leading China and other countries in the AI race and argued that AI could become more transformative than the Industrial Revolution. Trump also renewed his criticism of the International Criminal Court, urging member countries to withdraw and arguing that the court should not have jurisdiction over U.S. military personnel.
Turning to the United Nations itself, Trump said the organization had significant potential but called for further reforms, including reductions in bureaucracy and spending. He criticized what he described as the influence of “globalist bureaucrats” and said the United States would continue pushing for changes at international institutions.
The speech comes as world leaders gather in New York amid continuing conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine, uncertainty over global economic conditions and growing debate over the international governance of artificial intelligence. The UN’s 81st General Assembly general debate runs from Sept. 22 through Sept. 28.
