Trump tells UN climate change is a 'con job' and Europe should be ashamed over Russian oil
European countries should be "embarrassed" for continuing to purchase Russian oil, US president Donald Trump has said.
At the UN General Assembly in New York, in his first address to the UN since 2020, Mr Trump delivered a speech focused largely on his achievements and domestic policies but included a scathing section on the war in Ukraine.
Mr Trump accused European countries of assisting Russia by continuing to buy Russian oil, a situation he called "embarrassing" for Europe.
“They have to immediately cease all energy purchases from Russia. Otherwise, we’re all wasting a lot of time.”
Mr Trump claimed that his first term as president had brought “peace and prosperity” but that this had been replaced by “four years of weakness and lawlessness.”
He described the current moment as “the golden age of America,” asserting that “inflation has been defeated” and “the only thing that's up is the stock market.”
Mr Trump insisted the US is “now respected on the world stage” after once being “a laughing stock.”
Turning to immigration, he warned other nations that it is “destroying your country.” He attacked “globalist institutions”, saying the UN had “created the problem of uncontrolled migration” and that “countries are going to hell.”
He claimed to have “ended seven wars” and criticised the UN for its lack of support.
He said that "all he had gotten for this was an escalator that stopped and a broken teleprompter", referencing the failure of his screen as he read his speech.
"All the UN seems to do is write a strongly-worded letter. But they're empty words and words don't end wars," Mr Trump said, touting his own candidacy for the Nobel Peace Prize.
Mr Trump mocked the UN for rejecting his past bid to redevelop its New York headquarters, which he said had “massive cost overruns and doesn’t even have marble floors.”
"They still haven't finished the job," he added.
He demanded an end to research into biological weapons, claiming the covid-19 pandemic had been caused by “reckless experiments.” Without evidence, he also claimed that London mayor Sadiq Khan “wants to go to Sharia law.”
Mr Trump said “the failed experiment of uncontrolled immigration must end,” boasting that his administration had detained, jailed, and deported large numbers of migrants.
He added that containing nuclear threats was a priority and promised to prevent Iran, “the world’s number one sponsor of terror,” from obtaining a nuclear weapon.
On Gaza, he said there “must be a ceasefire” but insisted recognising Palestinian statehood would be “a reward for Hamas.”
“We have to negotiate peace. We have to get the hostages back,” he said.
Mr Trump also dismissed climate science as the “greatest con job in the history of mankind,” branding its advocates as “stupid people.”
He criticised the costs of green energy and claimed America had a supply of “clean, beautiful coal” it would export worldwide.
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