Trump Opens U.N. Speech with Humor — Then Pivots to Power, Prosperity, and America First
Carlos Taylhardat | 3 Narratives News | September 23, 2025
A Light Moment Before the Fireworks
Donald Trump began his highly anticipated speech at the United Nations General Assembly with an unscripted quip:
“I am making this speech without a teleprompter… because the teleprompter is not working. I am telling you, whoever is in charge of the teleprompter is in big trouble.”
The room laughed. For a few seconds, world leaders relaxed. But soon the humor gave way to some of Trump’s most combative attacks on the very institution he was addressing.
Narrative 1 — Trump’s Case: Prosperity, Respect, and a Broken U.N.
Trump described America as entering a “golden age” under his leadership:
“We are reversing the calamity that was inherited by the last administration. Inflation is down, groceries are down — the only thing going up is the stock market. All of you benefit from it. In four years of Biden we had less than a trillion. In my 200 days we have already brought $17 trillion.”
He praised El Salvador’s crackdown on gangs, insisting it protected America. Then he boasted of foreign policy achievements:
“My administration has negotiated one historic trade deal after another. I ended seven unendable wars — Cambodia, Thailand, the Congo, Israel and Iran, Armenia and Azerbaijan. I did it in just seven months.”
Finally, he delivered a blistering critique of the U.N.:
“Sadly, in all cases the U.N. didn’t even try to help. I didn’t even receive a phone call from the U.N. A bad escalator and a bad teleprompter — these are the only two things I got from the U.N. What is the purpose of the U.N.? They really don’t do anything. All they do is write letters. Letters don’t solve wars.”
And then his emotional refrain:
“All I care about is saving lives.”
Trump’s argument was clear: America, acting alone, delivers peace and prosperity. The U.N. only talks.
Narrative 2 — The Critics: Lives Saved or Lives Ignored?
Critics and analysts painted a more complicated picture.
- Critics and analysts painted a more complicated picture.
- Economic claims: Fact-checkers note stock market gains since Trump’s return are closer to $13–15 trillion, not $17 trillion (Bloomberg). Inflation eased mainly due to Federal Reserve policy, and many families still face high food and housing costs. See our own breakdown in Canada’s Shifting Ties with the U.S. Over Israel where market politics shaped foreign relations.
- Foreign policy: Conflicts in Gaza, Congo, and the Caucasus are far from resolved. The Armenia–Azerbaijan ceasefire, for example, remains fragile (Reuters). In our feature Sudan’s Silent War, we showed how “wars ended” on paper often continue on the ground.
- On respect: While some authoritarian leaders admire Trump’s bluntness, many U.S. allies see America as less predictable and cooperative. As we explored in The Rift Between Left and Right, claims of “respect” can look very different depending on who’s listening.
- On the U.N.: Diplomats acknowledge the U.N.’s limits but argue its peacekeepers, aid programs, and mediation efforts often make the difference between war and chaos. “Letters don’t end wars,” said one European diplomat, “but food convoys and vaccines organized by the U.N. have saved millions” (UN News).
Narrative 3 — The Silent Story: Who Counts the Lives?
The people absent from Trump’s stagecraft are those still enduring the wars he claims to have ended:
- Palestinian families in Gaza facing shortages of food, medicine, and safe housing.
- Israeli hostages’ relatives, desperate for more than speeches.
- Villagers in Congo, still fleeing violence despite “peace deals.”
- Armenian and Azerbaijani families, fearing another round of shelling even as leaders declare victory.
For them, neither unilateral U.S. deals nor U.N. letters are enough. Saving lives requires more than slogans — it demands aid trucks, schools, rebuilt hospitals, and lasting diplomacy.
Should the U.S. fund the UN more—or go solo?
Key Takeaways
- Trump opened his UN speech with humor, then launched attacks on the institution itself.
- He claimed credit for ending seven “unendable” wars and delivering trillions in market gains.
- He dismissed the U.N. as ineffective, saying “letters don’t solve wars.”
- His defining line — “All I care about is saving lives” — framed his message as moral leadership.
- Critics argue his record is exaggerated and that millions still suffer in unresolved conflicts.
Suggested FAQs
Q: What did Trump say about the United Nations in his 2025 speech?
A: He mocked the U.N. as ineffective, claiming it “only writes letters” and “doesn’t solve wars.”
Q: What wars did Trump claim to have ended?
A: He cited conflicts in Cambodia, Thailand, Congo, Israel–Iran tensions, and Armenia–Azerbaijan, saying he resolved them in seven months.
Q: Did Trump exaggerate U.S. economic gains?
A: Yes. Markets gained around $13–15 trillion since January 2025, not the $17 trillion he claimed.
Q: What was Trump’s central message?
A: That America First policies save lives and deliver results, while globalist institutions like the U.N. fail.
Q: How have critics responded?
A: They argue Trump’s claims are overstated and that conflicts remain unresolved, with civilians still suffering.
