President Donald Trump took the world stage at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) yesterday, delivering a fiery 57-minute speech that blasted the UN as ineffective while technical glitches stole the spotlight.
The UN has not been there for us as a country. For months, @POTUS brokered peace in major world conflicts without any help being offered to him.
The UN has tremendous potential, but it is not living up to it. Strongly worded letters are just empty words. Actions end wars. pic.twitter.com/fhvLmJceQK
— Secretary Marco Rubio (@SecRubio) September 23, 2025
From a stuck escalator to a faulty teleprompter and audio hiccups, the mishaps gave Trump fuel to mock the UN’s “broken” system, reinforcing his “America First” message. Here’s what Americans need to know about the chaotic day, in simple terms.
Speaking to leaders from 193 countries, Trump didn’t hold back. He called the UN “rich in potential but useless in action,” saying it’s failed to stop wars like those in Ukraine and Gaza. “The United States is doing the real work,” he claimed, pointing to his administration’s efforts to mediate global conflicts, like talks between Egypt and Ethiopia. He pitched tariffs on Russia to help Ukraine and rejected Palestinian statehood, calling it a “reward for Hamas.” Trump also bragged about America’s energy dominance, dismissing climate change efforts as a “con job” that hurts economies. He warned other nations about open borders, saying unchecked immigration is “destroying” Western countries and their cultures. “Your countries are going to hell,” he told world leaders, pushing for stronger border security everywhere.
The speech was anything but smooth. Right before Trump spoke, an escalator carrying him and First Lady Melania stopped dead, leaving them stuck for several seconds. Trump later joked it was “just like the UN—full of stops and no progress.” His team demanded an investigation, with some allies, like X user @LauraLoomer, calling it “sabotage.” Then, as Trump started speaking, the teleprompter froze, forcing him to wing it. “Whoever’s running this teleprompter is in big trouble,” he quipped, getting a laugh from the crowd. Audio issues followed, with mics cutting out and feedback buzzing through the room. Trump used the glitches to hammer his point: “Even their tech can’t keep up—much like their peacemaking.”
Trump’s speech laid out his vision for a stronger America that doesn’t rely on global groups like the UN. He painted the U.S. as the world’s problem-solver, touting recent wins like a shaky transition in Syria after Assad’s fall and progress in Ukraine. He also pushed for a U.S.-led ceasefire in Gaza. At home, his words fired up supporters who agree the UN wastes American money—about 22% of its budget comes from U.S. taxpayers. On X, MAGA fans cheered, with posts like “Trump exposes UN’s incompetence!” But critics, including Democrats, slammed him for exaggerating and ignoring his own failures to end wars.
Unlike 2018, when leaders laughed at Trump’s boasts, this time many courted him, reflecting his growing global influence. French President Emmanuel Macron pushed back, defending global cooperation, while Colombia’s leader criticized U.S. anti-drug policies. Trump later met UN Secretary-General António Guterres and hosted a reception, acting friendly but warning he’d cut UN funding without reforms.
The glitches—escalator, teleprompter, audio—fed into Trump’s narrative that the UN is outdated. Some X users even called to “defund and evict” the UN from New York. The Secret Service is looking into the escalator issue, citing security risks. As the UNGA continues, Trump’s speech sets the tone for his second term: less trust in global bodies, more focus on American power. Expect debates about U.S. funding for the UN and its role in conflicts like Ukraine to heat up.