US President Donald Trump used his September 22 address to the United Nations General Assembly to defend his administration’s foreign-policy approach and outline positions on Iran, Russia’s war in Ukraine, artificial intelligence, the United Nations and security in the Western Hemisphere.
The 37-minute speech at the 81st session of the General Assembly came as world leaders gathered in New York for the annual high-level debate. The UN says the general debate runs from September 22 to September 28, with heads of state and government addressing the Assembly on international issues.
Trump’s address focused heavily on the use of US power and national sovereignty, while also presenting diplomacy as a tool for resolving several international disputes.
Iran dominated the speech
Iran was one of the main subjects of Trump’s address.
Trump defended the US-Israeli military campaign against Iran and said the United States would not allow Iran to obtain a nuclear weapon. He also warned that Iran could face further military action if an agreement was not reached. Reuters reported that Trump said he could “annihilate” Iran without a peace deal and expected negotiations to produce an agreement after the US midterm elections.
The White House described the administration’s position as a refusal to allow Iran to develop a nuclear weapon and presented US military action as part of a broader effort to confront what it considers threats to American security.
Trump’s statements represent the position of the US administration. They do not by themselves establish the future course of negotiations or whether an agreement with Tehran will be reached.
Trump says Russia-Ukraine war can be resolved
Trump also addressed Russia’s war in Ukraine.
He said the United States was working with both Russian and Ukrainian leaders and expressed confidence that the conflict could be brought to an end through negotiations. Reuters reported that Trump said a resolution would happen more quickly than some people understood.
The comments came amid continuing international efforts to end the war.
Trump’s speech therefore placed diplomatic negotiations alongside military and economic pressure as instruments of US foreign policy. However, his stated expectation of a resolution is not itself evidence that a settlement has been reached.
AI becomes part of US strategic policy
Artificial intelligence was another significant part of the address.
Trump said the United States would reject what he described as international attempts to impose global controls on AI. He also said his administration would refer to the technology as “super intelligence” rather than artificial intelligence.
The White House presented the position as opposition to international restrictions that could limit US technological development.
The issue is increasingly connected to national security and economic competition because advanced AI systems have applications in civilian industries, defence and critical infrastructure.
The UN’s own high-level programme for the 81st session includes discussions on AI governance, reflecting the wider international debate over how governments should approach the technology.
Stronger emphasis on US sovereignty
Trump used the speech to emphasise American sovereignty and opposition to what he described as excessive international control.
He rejected the idea of a global government and said the United States would not accept global taxes. He also criticised aspects of the United Nations and argued for reducing what his administration considers unnecessary bureaucracy and spending.
The White House subsequently highlighted these parts of the speech, saying the administration had reduced US spending associated with UN operations and sought to make the organisation more focused on what Washington considers its core functions.
The United Nations, meanwhile, remains a forum in which the United States and 192 other member states participate. The General Assembly has 193 members, with each member state having one vote.
Security in the Western Hemisphere
Trump also outlined a more assertive approach to security in the Western Hemisphere.
He said the United States would not permit threats to gain a foothold in the region and said Washington could use military power when necessary to protect what it considers vital national interests. He linked this position to his administration’s approach to drug cartels and security threats involving Venezuela, Cuba and Mexico.
Reuters reported that Trump described drug cartels as terrorist organisations and defended US military action against cartel-linked vessels. Those statements were part of his broader argument that the United States should use military power more aggressively against threats it identifies in the Western Hemisphere.
Claims by the administration concerning the effectiveness and scale of such operations remain claims that require separate verification rather than being treated as established outcomes of the UN speech.
International Criminal Court criticism
Trump also renewed his criticism of the International Criminal Court.
He urged countries to withdraw from the ICC and described the institution as exceeding its authority. The administration has previously imposed sanctions against the court and has opposed what it regards as attempts to exercise jurisdiction over US personnel.
The remarks underline a broader US position that international institutions should not restrict Washington’s ability to exercise its sovereign powers.
The position differs from that of governments and international organisations that support the ICC’s role in prosecuting individuals accused of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity.
UN reform remains part of the debate
Trump’s criticism of the United Nations came as the organisation itself is discussing reform.
The 81st General Assembly session is operating under the theme “Restoring Trust, Managing Transformation: A United Nations That Delivers for All.” UN officials have highlighted institutional reform, peace and security, development, AI governance and other global challenges during high-level week.
Trump’s administration has approached reform primarily through reducing US financial commitments and challenging parts of the organisation’s work.
The White House said the administration had saved more than $1 billion through reductions in UN-related spending and had sought changes to peacekeeping and other areas. These are administration claims about its own record.
Gaza and the wider Middle East
Trump’s speech also came amid continuing international attention on Gaza and the wider Middle East.
The UN Secretary-General, speaking at the opening of the General Assembly’s general debate, called for de-escalation, humanitarian access and compliance with international law. He also highlighted the continuing humanitarian situation in Gaza and called for progress toward a two-state solution.
The contrast between the UN Secretary-General’s emphasis on international law and humanitarian protection and Trump’s focus on US power and national sovereignty formed part of the wider debate surrounding the General Assembly.
At the same time, foreign ministers from Qatar, Egypt, Jordan, the UAE, Indonesia, Pakistan, Türkiye and Saudi Arabia said in a joint statement that they wanted continued US engagement in implementing a broader Gaza peace framework.
What the speech signals for US foreign policy
Taken together, Trump’s remarks set out several recurring themes in his administration’s foreign-policy approach: stronger emphasis on US sovereignty, willingness to use military power, pressure on adversaries, scepticism toward aspects of multilateral institutions and opposition to international restrictions on emerging technologies.
The speech also showed that diplomacy remains part of the administration’s stated strategy, particularly in relation to Iran and Ukraine.
However, several of the outcomes Trump discussed remain future objectives rather than completed developments. His statements about reaching agreements, ending conflicts or changing international institutions should therefore be distinguished from events that have already occurred.
A wider debate over America’s role
Trump’s address came during a UN session in which governments are debating how international institutions should respond to wars, humanitarian crises, climate change, technological change and questions of global governance.
The UN’s 81st session is scheduled to continue through September 2027, while the high-level general debate continues through September 28.
For the United States, the speech provided a public statement of the administration’s current foreign-policy priorities before an international audience.
As of September 27, 2026, those priorities include confronting Iran, seeking a diplomatic resolution to the Russia-Ukraine war, protecting US interests in the Western Hemisphere, resisting international controls on AI and pressing for changes to the United Nations.
The practical effect of those positions will depend on subsequent negotiations, international responses and decisions by the US administration and other governments.
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