Trump to slam Western allies for recognising Palestinian state at UN: White House

UPDATED: Sep 23, 2025 06:48 IST

US President Donald Trump will use his first address of his second term to the United Nations on Tuesday to rail against globalist institutions and to denounce Western allies that have recognised a Palestinian state, the White House said.

Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt previewed the remarks on Monday, telling reporters Trump would highlight “the renewal of American strength around the world” while warning that international bodies such as the UN have “significantly decayed the world order.”

“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.

According to AFP, Trump is expected to lean heavily on his “America First” theme, a stance that has often put him at odds with multilateral organizations. During his first term, he slashed US funding to UN agencies and pulled out of several international agreements.

This year’s General Assembly comes against the backdrop of Israel’s war in Gaza, now nearing its second year. The conflict has sharpened divisions among Western governments over whether to recognise Palestinian statehood.

Leavitt made clear that Trump will criticise those moves directly. “Frankly, he believes it’s a reward to Hamas,” she said. “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.”

France formally recognised a Palestinian state on Monday, following similar steps by Britain, Canada and Australia. The wave of recognition infuriated Israel, whose Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to expand Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank. Netanyahu is set to address the UN on Friday.

Leavitt stressed that Trump had already voiced his opposition to Britain’s recognition of Palestine during a state visit to London earlier this month. “The president has been very clear he disagrees with this decision,” she said.

Despite his combative tone toward allies, Trump is also expected to court regional partners at the UN gathering. Leavitt said he will hold a multilateral meeting with leaders from Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Turkey, Pakistan, Egypt, the UAE and Jordan.

He will also meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as Kyiv seeks stronger security guarantees, and with Argentina’s Javier Milei, a close ally, a day after Washington said it was weighing an economic package to steady Argentina’s financial markets.

The speech will be Trump’s first appearance at the UN General Assembly since reclaiming the presidency in January. For many delegates, it will be a reminder of how sharply US foreign policy has shifted under his leadership — away from collective frameworks and toward a blunt defence of sovereignty.

- Ends

(With inputs from AFP)

Tune In