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U.S. President Donald Trump will deliver a sharp rebuke of international organizations and condemn Western allies' recognition of Palestinian statehood during his address to the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday, the White House announced Monday.
The speech marks Trump's first appearance before the world body during his second term, coming as the annual diplomatic gathering unfolds against the backdrop of Israel's ongoing war in Gaza. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the president will emphasize "the renewal of American strength around the world" while taking aim at multilateral institutions.
"The president will also touch upon how globalist institutions have significantly decayed the world order, and he will articulate his straightforward and constructive vision for the world," Leavitt said during a briefing.
The remarks align with Trump's longstanding skepticism of international bodies, which has been central to his "America First" foreign policy approach. During his previous presidency, Trump reduced funding or withdrew the United States from several UN agencies and programs, viewing them as constraints on American sovereignty.
In a notable diplomatic move, Trump will convene a multilateral meeting with leaders from eight Muslim-majority nations on the sidelines of the UN assembly. The gathering will include representatives from Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Türkiye, Pakistan, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and Jordan.
The timing appears significant as Trump prepares to address recent decisions by several Western governments to formally recognize Palestinian statehood. Britain, Canada and Australia have moved to recognize Palestine as a state, with France expected to follow suit on Monday. These diplomatic developments have drawn fierce criticism from Israel.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, scheduled to address the General Assembly on Friday, has responded to the recognitions by vowing to expand Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank.
Trump has made clear his opposition to the Western recognition efforts, which he views as counterproductive to Middle East peace efforts. "The president has been very clear he disagrees with this decision," Leavitt said, referencing Trump's recent discussions with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer during a UK state visit last week.
"Frankly, he believes it's a reward to Hamas. So he believes these decisions are just more talk and not enough action from some of our friends and allies, and I think you'll hear him talk about that tomorrow," she added.
The criticism reflects Trump's broader approach to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which during his first term included moving the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem and brokering normalization agreements between Israel and several Arab nations through the Abraham Accords.
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Beyond his UN address, Trump's diplomatic schedule includes a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as Ukraine continues seeking Western-backed security guarantees amid its conflict with Russia. The meeting comes as international efforts to secure a sustainable ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia remain elusive.
Trump will also meet with Argentine President Javier Milei, a key ally in South America. The meeting follows the U.S. Treasury Department's announcement that it is considering economic assistance for Argentina as the country works to stabilize volatile financial markets.
The president's UN appearance comes at a critical juncture in international relations, with ongoing conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine dominating global diplomatic discussions and testing traditional alliance structures that Trump has frequently criticized.
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