US President Donald Trump is set to address the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on Tuesday, underscoring America’s evolving global role amid persistent crises in Ukraine and Gaza. Trump, returning to the UN stage, arrives as a figure whose policies and diplomacy have reshaped Washington’s engagement with multilateral institutions.
CNN reports that where Trump’s first-term speech drew mocking laughter, world leaders are now seeking engagement through diplomacy, recognising his influence on global affairs. Trump leverages personal ties with key leaders while challenging long-established international frameworks.
The White House said the address would emphasise “the renewal of American strength around the world, his historic accomplishments in just eight months, including the ending of seven global wars and conflicts.” Press secretary Karoline Leavitt added, “The president will also touch upon how globalist institutions have significantly decayed the world order, and he will articulate his straightforward and constructive vision for the world.”
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Trump has long been sceptical of the UN, previously criticising its facilities and reducing US contributions to humanitarian aid and peacekeeping. Earlier this year, he withdrew the United States from the UN Human Rights Council, UNESCO, and the World Health Organisation. He stated, “I've always felt that the UN has tremendous potential. It's not living up to that potential right now.”
The US approach under Trump has occasionally aligned with Russia and China, notably on a Ukraine resolution in February, while diverging sharply from most nations over Gaza. The President will host leaders from Muslim-majority nations, including Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Turkey, Pakistan, Egypt, UAE, and Jordan, for talks on the conflict.
Trump’s UNGA schedule also includes bilateral meetings with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Argentinian President Javier Milei, and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. His prior appearances have included sharp rhetoric, such as branding North Korean leader Kim Jong Un “rocket man.” CNN notes that Trump now addresses the assembly not as an outsider but as a sitting US President shaping the institution’s future.
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