Donald Trump at the UN: What he said about Palestine, hostages, and Russia
Upon his return to the General Assembly, Donald Trump toughened his approach. He questioned the recognition of Palestine, demanded the immediate release of hostages, and warned of tariffs if Russia doesn't move toward a peace agreement.
Trump argued that "unilateral" recognition of the Palestinian state is tantamount to rewarding Hamas and called on the international bloc to send a common message: to release the hostages unconditionally. In this context, he emphasized that Washington remains involved in ceasefire negotiations with the Palestinian group, but attributed the failures to repeated rejections, according to his version.
The president avoided the conference on the two-state solution promoted by France and Saudi Arabia, which Israel also did not attend. Nevertheless, he stated his position: without free hostages, there will be no sustainable peace. This line of thought echoes the arguments of Benjamin Netanyahu's government, which questions recent recognitions by third countries.
On Europe, he was blunt: if the continent wants to be effective in supporting Kiev, it must stop buying energy from Moscow. He stated that the United States is ready to impose a "very strong" package of tariffs if Russia shows no willingness to end the war, with the aim of aligning transatlantic measures and, he said, increasing economic pressure.
He also admitted that he envisioned a simpler resolution to the conflict in Ukraine and blamed the Kremlin for prolonging a war that, in his opinion, "should have lasted for days." At the same time, he accused some countries of indirectly "financing" the conflict, with references to China and India.
In domestic and regional policy, he placed the fight against drug trafficking as a security priority and mentioned operations against boats transporting drugs from Venezuela . He reiterated his plan to designate cartels as terrorist organizations and promised to use the full power of the state to "destroy" these networks.
On immigration, he advocated for stricter controls and urged that this approach be replicated in Europe. Linking immigration to crime, he again criticized the UN itself for its role in an "out-of-control crisis" and took advantage of technical glitches at the UN to mock what "needs to be fixed."
Finally, he announced that he will promote an international verification system supported by Artificial Intelligence to reduce the risks of biological weapons. He linked this research to global dangers and recalled the controversy over the origin of COVID-19, a thesis that, in his view, once again brings laboratory safety into question.
Donald Trump, the UN, and the War in Gaza
Since the beginning of the escalation in Gaza, hostage negotiations have become the core of every ceasefire attempt, according to diplomatic sources. This position is supported by Israel's allies and challenged by countries that have already recognized Palestine as a state.
Donald Trump UN on the Recognition of Palestine
Recent announcements by several governments have revived the debate over the timing and conditions for a two-state solution. Trump believes these decisions send the wrong signals while hostages and fighting continue.
Donald Trump, the UN, and the economy: tariffs on Russia
The tariff plan would be "forceful" if there is no credible negotiation on Moscow's part. For the plan to have an impact, the president called on Europe to replicate the "exact same measures" and cut off purchases of Russian gas and oil.
Donald Trump UN at the General Assembly
Between bilateral meetings and speeches, the Assembly once again became a thermometer of tensions. Trump's text combined security demands, economic pressure, and criticism of the multilateral system.
Regional repercussions of Donald Trump's UN speech
Trump's intervention at the UN did not go unnoticed in Latin America. Diplomatic analysts emphasized that his warning about drug cartels and his direct mention of Venezuela rekindled bilateral tensions at a time of economic fragility. At the same time, his insistence on tough measures against illegal immigration was seen as a nod to domestic sectors in the United States, but also as a call to European and Latin American governments to toughen their policies. In Montevideo, Buenos Aires, and Brasilia, Foreign Ministry sources indicated that Trump's tone confirms a security and trade agenda that could condition future multilateral negotiations.
