Trump slams UN as he claims he ended seven wars without its help: 'Too bad that I had to do it'

Trump claimed he ended wars between Israel-Iran, India-Pakistan, Rwanda-DRC, Thailand-Cambodia, Armenia-Azerbaijan, Egypt-Ethiopia and Serbia-Kosovo
President Donald Trump speaks during the 80th session of the UN’s General Assembly (UNGA) at the United Nations headquarters on September 23, 2025 in New York City (Getty Images)
President Donald Trump speaks during the 80th session of the UN’s General Assembly (UNGA) at the United Nations headquarters on September 23, 2025 in New York City (Getty Images)

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: President Donald Trump struck a critical tone at the United Nations General Assembly debate on Tuesday, questioning the relevance of the international body.

Trump said his administration had stepped in where the UN had failed, claiming he personally helped end wars across several regions.



 

Trump says UN failed while he brokered peace deals

Trump declared that since returning to office, he had ended seven wars, including conflicts between Cambodia and Thailand, Kosovo and Serbia, the Congo and Rwanda, Pakistan and India, Israel and Iran, Egypt and Ethiopia, and Armenia and Azerbaijan.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 23: President Donald Trump of The United States addresses the General Assembly of the United Nations during the opening session on September 23, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by Patrick van Katwijk/Getty Images)
President Donald Trump of The United States addresses the General Assembly of the United Nations during the opening session on September 23, 2025 in New York City (Patrick van Katwijk/Getty Images)

“It’s too bad that I had to do these things instead of the United Nations,” Trump said in his speech. He added that glitches at the event, including an escalator that stalled and a broken teleprompter, symbolised inefficiency within the UN.

“The United Nations wasn’t there for us. They weren’t there,” Trump told the assembly.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 23: U.S. President Donald Trump, and First Lady Melania Trump arrive for the 80th session of the UN’s General Assembly (UNGA) on September 23, 2025 in New York City. This year’s theme for the annual global meeting is:“Better together: 80 years and more for peace, development and human rights.” Gaza and Ukraine are just two of the global emergencies that world leaders will look to address. (Photo by Alexi J. Rosenfeld/Getty Images)
US President Donald Trump, and first lady Melania Trump arrive for the 80th session of the UN’s General Assembly (UNGA) on September 23, 2025 in New York City (Alexi J Rosenfeld/Getty Images)

Trump claims winning Nobel Prize is not a priority for him but saving lives is

While calling the UN a body with “tremendous potential,” Trump accused it of doing little more than issuing ineffective letters.

“For the most part, at least for now, 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,” Trump said during his address.


NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 23: U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) at the United Nations headquarters on September 23, 2025 in New York City. World leaders convened for the 80th Session of UNGA, with this year’s theme for the annual global meeting being “Better together: 80 years and more for peace, development and human rights.” (Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)
US President Donald Trump speaks during the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) at the United Nations headquarters on September 23, 2025 in New York City (Michael M Santiago/Getty Images)

Trump also touched on his desire for recognition, noting, “Everyone says that I should get the Nobel Peace Prize for each one of these achievements.” But he added, “What I care about is not winning prizes, it’s saving lives.”

He told the audience, “The real prize will be the sons and daughters who live to grow up with the mothers and fathers, because millions of people are no longer being killed in endless and glorious wars.”

Trump warns countries 'going to hell' because of migration policies

Trump criticised other nations’ immigration policies and accused the UN of “funding an assault on Western countries” by migrants.



 

“It’s time to end the failed experiment of open borders. You have to end it now,” Trump told the General Assembly. “I’m really good at this stuff. Your countries are going to hell.”

He claimed the UN was failing in its role, saying, “The UN is supposed to stop invasions, not create them and not finance them.”

“The United States rejects the idea that mass numbers of people from foreign lands can be permitted to travel halfway around the world, trample our borders, violate our sovereignty, cause unmitigated crime, and deplete our social safety net,” Trump said.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 23: U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during the 80th session of the UN’s General Assembly (UNGA) at the United Nations headquarters on September 23, 2025 in New York City. World leaders convened for the 80th Session of UNGA, with this year’s theme for the annual global meeting being “Better together: 80 years and more for peace, development and human rights.” (Photo by Taylor Hill/Getty Images)
 US President Donald Trump speaks during the 80th session of the UN’s General Assembly (UNGA) at the United Nations headquarters on September 23, 2025 in New York City (Taylor Hill/Getty Images)

He added, “We have reasserted that America belongs to the American people, and I encourage all countries to take their own stand in defence of their citizens as well.”

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