U.S. President Donald Trump used his address to the 81st United Nations General Assembly on September 22, 2026, to issue a stark ultimatum to Iran, stating he must decide whether to reach a deal with the country or annihilate
the Islamic Republic.
The 80-year-old president defended a nearly seven-month war against Iran, which he claimed was necessary to prevent Tehran from acquiring nuclear weapons. Trump called for other nations to economically isolate Iran until it agrees to U.S. demands, though he expressed belief that Iran would make a deal right after
the November U.S. midterm elections. This timing is significant as the Republican party faces the possibility of losing control of Congress, partly due to unpopularity surrounding the war and high fuel prices.
Attacks on Globalism and International Bodies
During his 37-minute speech, Trump renewed his criticism of international institutions, describing the UN as being run by globalist bureaucrats who nobody ever elected
with a far-left agenda
. He urged other countries to boycott the International Criminal Court and the United Nations, asserting that there is no global government
and emphasizing national sovereignty.
The president also focused on American hegemony, proclaiming the U.S. to be the most powerful country in the world
. He warned that the U.S. would use its unmatched military might
to protect national interests in the Western hemisphere. Specifically, Trump referred to Cuba as a failed state
and claimed the communist-run island would soon fall
, accusing its government of cultivating ties with U.S. groups including Antifa, the Democratic Socialists of America, and the Communist Party USA. The Cuban delegation appeared to walk out of the assembly chamber during these remarks.
Warnings of Global Instability
Contrasting the U.S. president’s rhetoric, outgoing UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres delivered a farewell speech warning that the fault lines in our world are widening
. Guterres cited artificial intelligence, climate change, wars, and geopolitical rivalries as primary drivers of this instability, urging superpowers to recognize that their power isn’t so super
.
Guterres also highlighted the specter of ethnic cleansing
regarding the expansion of Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank. These divisions were further mirrored in the assembly’s logistics; Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas was denied a U.S. visa for the second consecutive year and was permitted by a General Assembly vote to deliver his address via video.
Regional Diplomacy and Side Meetings
While addressing the assembly, Trump held several side meetings with world leaders, including:
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky
- British Prime Minister Andy Burnham
- Japanese premier Sanae Takaichi
- Leaders from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, and the United Arab Emirates
Trump also scheduled his first meeting with Venezuela’s interim leader Delcy Rodriguez, who has governed since U.S. forces captured her predecessor, Nicolas Maduro, in January. Meanwhile, Brazilian leader Lula, who is running for reelection, stated that Brazil does not fit in anyone’s backyard
, challenging Trump’s assertions of dominance across the Americas.
In the Middle East, diplomatic tensions remain high. Foreign ministers from several nations, including Jordan, Egypt, Türkiye, and Saudi Arabia, recently rejected proposals for the forcible displacement of Palestinians from Gaza and reiterated support for a Palestinian state along 1967 lines with East Jerusalem as its capital, warning such displacement could undermine Trump’s Gaza peace plan.
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