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Donald Trump‘s 2025 United Nations General Assembly Address
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On September 23, 2025, former U.S. President Donald Trump addressed teh United Nations General Assembly at UN headquarters in New York City, focusing on themes of national sovereignty and challenging the body’s effectiveness. His remarks marked a return too the UN stage after a four-year absence during his previous presidency.
Key Themes of the Address
The central argument of Trump’s address revolved around the principle of national sovereignty, asserting that individual nations should prioritize their own interests and maintain control over their borders and policies. He criticized what he described as the UN’s encroachment on national decision-making and advocated for a more limited role for the organization in global affairs. He also reiterated his long-standing concerns about financial contributions to the UN, suggesting the U.S. was bearing an unfair share of the costs.
According to a UN press release, Trump stated, “We must always put our own citizens first. A nation cannot fulfill its obligations to its own people if it is indeed burdened by endless commitments to others.”
Reactions from Member States
Responses to Trump’s speech were varied. Several nations aligned with his emphasis on national sovereignty, while others expressed concern over his critical stance toward multilateralism and international cooperation. European Union representatives, in particular, voiced disagreement with his approach, emphasizing the importance of collective action to address global challenges.
The Reuters reported that French Ambassador to the UN, Nicolas de Rivière, stated, “We believe in multilateralism. we believe in the United nations.And we believe that global challenges require global solutions.”
The United States’ Financial Contributions to the UN
The United States is the largest single financial contributor to the United Nations, providing approximately 22% of the UN’s regular budget as of 2025. The U.S. Department of State details the country’s assessed and voluntary contributions to the UN system.
During his address, Trump called for a reassessment of the U.S.’s financial commitments, arguing that the current level of contribution was disproportionate and unsustainable. He suggested exploring choice funding models and reducing the overall U.S. share. He did not, however, announce any immediate changes to U.S.funding levels.
previous U.S.Engagement with the UN
Donald Trump’s relationship with the United Nations was frequently enough strained during his first term as president (2017-2021). He withdrew the U.S. from several UN-affiliated organizations, including the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Paris Agreement on climate change.The Council on Foreign Relations provides a detailed timeline of the U.S.’s engagement with the WHO under the Trump administration.
His 2025 address signaled a continuation of this critical approach, though delivered in a more formal setting and with a focus on broader principles of national sovereignty rather than specific policy disputes.