The U.N. Deserves a Trumpian Reckoning

A fundamental reassessment of the United Nations has been long in coming. Trump may give one when he addresses the body.

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Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas appears on a screen as he addresses delegates during a high-level meeting of heads of state on a two-state solution between Israel and the Palestinians at United Nations headquarters in New York City, September 22, 2025.

Eduardo Munoz/Reuters

For years, the United Nations has been dining out on a reputation built in the heady days following the end of World War II, when it was created to save future generations from the scourge of war, promote human rights and fundamental freedoms, advance economic development and higher standards of living, and promote comity among nations. There have been successes over the past 80 years, such as the elimination of smallpox, but they are shockingly rare considering the resources and respect the U.N. commands.

Today, September 23, Donald Trump will take the podium before the United Nations General Assembly for the fifth time. In previous speeches, he called out the organization for underperforming, whether on its failure to address Iran’s nuclear weapons program, bias in the International Criminal Court, or the unwillingness of the World Health Organization to condemn China for its lack of transparency and cooperation that made the Covid pandemic much more costly.

DP

About the Author

Danielle Pletka

Danielle Pletka is a distinguished senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and the host, with Marc Thiessen, of the podcast What the Hell Is Going On? and the related Substack.

BD

About the Author

Brett D. Schaefer

Brett D. Schaefer is a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, where he focuses on multilateral treaties, peacekeeping, and the United Nations and international organizations.

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