Donald Trump addresses the 80th UN General Assembly, New York City, September 23, 2025 (Mike Segar/Reuters)
I joined India’s WION on Wednesday to take apart Donald Trump’s diatribe in the UN General Assembly but, more importantly, to explain why the UN and multilateralism still matter to the world.
After noting Trump’s falsehoods and insults, I consider the importance of the UN beyond the Security Council and the General Assembly. I describe some of the work by agencies from human rights to healthcare to the environment to peacekeeping, all areas trashed by Trump in his rambling address.
I note serious issues such as the paralysis of the Security Council because of the veto held by permanent powers, but I ask Trump propagandist Greg Swenson, “Which UN agencies would you abolish?”
When he replies with more falsehoods and advocates shutting down the UN’s agency for Palestinian refugees, I call him and Trump out.
