Trump to highlight peace deals, defend Iran war in UN speech

US President Donald Trump is expected to portray himself as successful both militarily and diplomatically when he addresses the United Nations on Tuesday, with his speech coming amid growing fallout from his stalled war against Iran.

Trump is likely to repeat his familiar claims that the United States has become “the hottest country” in the world under his leadership.

He is also expected to defend the Iran war, which has yet to achieve the White House’s stated objectives and has caused significant economic disruption following the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

At the same time, Trump could use the UN platform to highlight his efforts to broker an end to the Gaza conflict and his push to bring more Arab countries into the Abraham Accords with Israel.

“No one knows what Trump is going to say, not even Trump's speechwriters,” said Daniel Forti of the International Crisis Group.

Forti said Trump is expected to contrast his claims of success as a peacemaker with his ongoing military operations around the world, adding that the reaction from other world leaders remains uncertain.

Anti-UN rhetoric at the UN?

Trump’s keynote address at the opening of the UN General Assembly’s high-level week will give him another major platform to criticise the international organisation.

His speech last year was marked by complaints about an escalator at UN headquarters that briefly stopped while he was using it, as well as a malfunctioning teleprompter.

Trump has repeatedly criticised the UN and Secretary-General Antonio Guterres since returning to office. Washington reportedly paid $725 million toward its UN obligations last week, avoiding the possibility of losing some voting rights.

Trump may also face scepticism over his claims of a major US diplomatic achievement following the signing of a security agreement Tuesday concerning a US presence in Greenland. Greenland is an autonomous territory of Denmark, and Trump’s repeated threats over the territory have caused tensions within long-standing US-led alliances.

Alongside his General Assembly address, Trump is expected to hold meetings with British Prime Minister Andy Burnham, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and Venezuela’s interim leader Delcy Rodriguez.

Rodriguez has been governing amid intense US pressure since her predecessor, Nicolas Maduro, was captured by US forces in January.

Escalator controversy

Trump’s address to world leaders last year was also dominated by his complaints about an escalator that stopped as he was using it, which he suggested had been deliberately disabled.

He also criticised the faulty teleprompter, falsely claimed that London’s mayor had imposed Islamic law and warned that Europe was facing serious problems because of migration.

Trump has continued to refer to the incidents.

“They turned off the escalator,” he said at the White House last week, recalling how he had to hold on to first lady Melania Trump when it stopped.

UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said Monday that the escalator had been “checked and rechecked.”

He added that new arrangements had been made for the US delegation to use a teleprompter from a separate booth, expressing hope that it would operate without problems.

AI and global conflicts

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who will open the week of speeches, is expected to address the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence as well as the conflicts continuing in several parts of the world.

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva is scheduled to speak immediately before Trump, maintaining Brazil’s traditional position as the first country to address the annual gathering of world leaders.

Lula, whose political opponents and other right-wing candidates in Latin America have received Trump’s support, has said he would urge the US president not to interfere in Brazil’s upcoming election.

The Brazilian leader, who is seeking re-election, said last week that he would tell Trump to “not meddle” in the vote.