SUBSCRIBE TO OUR FREE NEWSLETTER
Daily news & progressive opinion—funded by the people, not the corporations—delivered straight to your inbox.
5
#000000
#FFFFFF
5
#000000
#FFFFFF
Donald Trump, President of the United States of America, addresses the general debate of the General Assembly’s eightieth session.
(Photo: UN Photo/Loey Felipe)
Trump Tells the UN He Does Not Like the UN
The United Nations is running short of funds, partly but not solely because of the United States.
Sep 24, 2025
President Donald Trump wants to emasculate the United Nations, but he will not leave it. Where else can he address an audience with delegations from 193 countries? And the US seat on the UN Security Council gives it a veto.
Well before his 23 September speech, Trump interfered in the UN roster, in violation of the world body's agreement with the United States as the host country.
For one, the 89-year old Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas was not granted a visa. He spoke to the Assembly by video. Then Brazilian president President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, (known as Lula) who traditionally opens the high-level debate, was unable to get visas for his health minister, Alexandre Padilha, and his justice minister, Ricardo Lewandowski. Why? Because Lula opposed former president Jair Bolsnaro, someone Trump admires, of attempting a coup.
Trump's speech received applause when he demanded the release of hostages in captivity in Gaza. But delegates let out sounds of exasperation when he called climate change a "con job."
In general, he said the United States was entering a "golden age." But Western European nations, once our allies, were collapsing because of immigration, green energy, and faulty leadership.
Trump wants to slash UN funding for the world body and its various programs and agencies. He has stopped US engagement with the UN Human Rights Council, extended a halt to funding for the Palestinian relief agency, UNRWA, and quit the UN cultural agency UNESCO. He has also announced plans to pull out of the Paris climate deal and the World Health Organization.
The United Nations is running short of funds, partly but not solely because of the United States. Whereas Washington had sponsored USAID in developing nations, the world body has to cope with more gaps than ever in meeting its obligations.
What humanitarian work does the UN do?
The UN attempts to supply aid through its agencies such as the World Food Program (WFP), the World Health Organization (WHO), the UN children’s fund UNICEF, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the UN Population Fund (UNFPA), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), among others.
This does not mean just distributing food. When they are able, it hands out tents, or special "dignity" kits for women. Without a ceasefire in Gaza, many of its efforts fall by the wayside. Israel has restricted peanut butter as a luxury food. But in many other countries, the supplies continue.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Gutteres, a former Portuguese prime minister, aims to cut the operating budget by 15 percent, or $3.3 billion, and eliminate 2,681 posts. He also met with President Trump for the first time. Earlier requests had been ignored.
Of course, the staff is protesting any cuts. They have families, children in schools, and lives in New York, Geneva, or elsewhere.
The United Nations has turned into a sprawling project of resolutions, agencies, programs and agencies, initiated by member states. So calling it good, evil, or corrupt is the lazy way without investigating its projects, many of them overlapping.
One of Guterres’ major aims is to generate support for his plans to reform the United Nations and make it more responsive to the world. Because of funding cuts by the US and others (on defense spending) the UN announced last week that its regular operating budget for 2026 needs to be cut by 15% to $3.2 billion along with a 19% cut in that budget’s staff positions — 2,681 posts.
As a veteran UN correspondent, "reform" of the United Nations has been a battle cry from the United States and others for years. But no one really says what they mean.
The UN’s efforts at providing humanitarian aid are led by multiple UN agencies such as the World Food Program (WFP), the World Health Organization (WHO), the UN children’s fund UNICEF, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) , the UN Population Fund (UNFPA), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), among others.
Who is here?
Chief UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters there will be 89 heads of state, 5 vice presidents, one crown prince, and 45 heads of government at UN headquarters this week.
Delegates spend a lot of time talking to each other, so 1642 bilateral meetings have been scheduled in a pile of temporary meeting booths.
An Urgent Message From Our Co-Founder
Dear Common Dreams reader, The U.S. is on a fast track to authoritarianism like nothing I've ever seen. Meanwhile, corporate news outlets are utterly capitulating to Trump, twisting their coverage to avoid drawing his ire while lining up to stuff cash in his pockets. That's why I believe that Common Dreams is doing the best and most consequential reporting that we've ever done. Our small but mighty team is a progressive reporting powerhouse, covering the news every day that the corporate media never will. Our mission has always been simple: To inform. To inspire. And to ignite change for the common good. Now here's the key piece that I want all our readers to understand: None of this would be possible without your financial support. That's not just some fundraising cliche. It's the absolute and literal truth. We don't accept corporate advertising and never will. We don't have a paywall because we don't think people should be blocked from critical news based on their ability to pay. Everything we do is funded by the donations of readers like you. Will you donate now to help power the nonprofit, independent reporting of Common Dreams? Thank you for being a vital member of our community. Together, we can keep independent journalism alive when it’s needed most. - Craig Brown, Co-founder |
Our work is licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0). Feel free to republish and share widely.
Evelyn Leopold
Evelyn Leopold is a veteran United Nations reporter and received a gold medal from the UN Correspondents Association. She was a Reuters correspondent, editor and manager for 40 years and now freelances for a variety of publications. She has served in Britain, Germany and Kenya and is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, the Overseas Press Club and the Newswomen’s Club of New York. She is chair of the Dag Hammarskjöld Fund for Journalists.
President Donald Trump wants to emasculate the United Nations, but he will not leave it. Where else can he address an audience with delegations from 193 countries? And the US seat on the UN Security Council gives it a veto.
Well before his 23 September speech, Trump interfered in the UN roster, in violation of the world body's agreement with the United States as the host country.
For one, the 89-year old Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas was not granted a visa. He spoke to the Assembly by video. Then Brazilian president President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, (known as Lula) who traditionally opens the high-level debate, was unable to get visas for his health minister, Alexandre Padilha, and his justice minister, Ricardo Lewandowski. Why? Because Lula opposed former president Jair Bolsnaro, someone Trump admires, of attempting a coup.
Trump's speech received applause when he demanded the release of hostages in captivity in Gaza. But delegates let out sounds of exasperation when he called climate change a "con job."
In general, he said the United States was entering a "golden age." But Western European nations, once our allies, were collapsing because of immigration, green energy, and faulty leadership.
Trump wants to slash UN funding for the world body and its various programs and agencies. He has stopped US engagement with the UN Human Rights Council, extended a halt to funding for the Palestinian relief agency, UNRWA, and quit the UN cultural agency UNESCO. He has also announced plans to pull out of the Paris climate deal and the World Health Organization.
The United Nations is running short of funds, partly but not solely because of the United States. Whereas Washington had sponsored USAID in developing nations, the world body has to cope with more gaps than ever in meeting its obligations.
What humanitarian work does the UN do?
The UN attempts to supply aid through its agencies such as the World Food Program (WFP), the World Health Organization (WHO), the UN children’s fund UNICEF, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the UN Population Fund (UNFPA), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), among others.
This does not mean just distributing food. When they are able, it hands out tents, or special "dignity" kits for women. Without a ceasefire in Gaza, many of its efforts fall by the wayside. Israel has restricted peanut butter as a luxury food. But in many other countries, the supplies continue.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Gutteres, a former Portuguese prime minister, aims to cut the operating budget by 15 percent, or $3.3 billion, and eliminate 2,681 posts. He also met with President Trump for the first time. Earlier requests had been ignored.
Of course, the staff is protesting any cuts. They have families, children in schools, and lives in New York, Geneva, or elsewhere.
The United Nations has turned into a sprawling project of resolutions, agencies, programs and agencies, initiated by member states. So calling it good, evil, or corrupt is the lazy way without investigating its projects, many of them overlapping.
One of Guterres’ major aims is to generate support for his plans to reform the United Nations and make it more responsive to the world. Because of funding cuts by the US and others (on defense spending) the UN announced last week that its regular operating budget for 2026 needs to be cut by 15% to $3.2 billion along with a 19% cut in that budget’s staff positions — 2,681 posts.
As a veteran UN correspondent, "reform" of the United Nations has been a battle cry from the United States and others for years. But no one really says what they mean.
The UN’s efforts at providing humanitarian aid are led by multiple UN agencies such as the World Food Program (WFP), the World Health Organization (WHO), the UN children’s fund UNICEF, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) , the UN Population Fund (UNFPA), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), among others.
Who is here?
Chief UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters there will be 89 heads of state, 5 vice presidents, one crown prince, and 45 heads of government at UN headquarters this week.
Delegates spend a lot of time talking to each other, so 1642 bilateral meetings have been scheduled in a pile of temporary meeting booths.
Evelyn Leopold
Evelyn Leopold is a veteran United Nations reporter and received a gold medal from the UN Correspondents Association. She was a Reuters correspondent, editor and manager for 40 years and now freelances for a variety of publications. She has served in Britain, Germany and Kenya and is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, the Overseas Press Club and the Newswomen’s Club of New York. She is chair of the Dag Hammarskjöld Fund for Journalists.
President Donald Trump wants to emasculate the United Nations, but he will not leave it. Where else can he address an audience with delegations from 193 countries? And the US seat on the UN Security Council gives it a veto.
Well before his 23 September speech, Trump interfered in the UN roster, in violation of the world body's agreement with the United States as the host country.
For one, the 89-year old Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas was not granted a visa. He spoke to the Assembly by video. Then Brazilian president President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, (known as Lula) who traditionally opens the high-level debate, was unable to get visas for his health minister, Alexandre Padilha, and his justice minister, Ricardo Lewandowski. Why? Because Lula opposed former president Jair Bolsnaro, someone Trump admires, of attempting a coup.
Trump's speech received applause when he demanded the release of hostages in captivity in Gaza. But delegates let out sounds of exasperation when he called climate change a "con job."
In general, he said the United States was entering a "golden age." But Western European nations, once our allies, were collapsing because of immigration, green energy, and faulty leadership.
Trump wants to slash UN funding for the world body and its various programs and agencies. He has stopped US engagement with the UN Human Rights Council, extended a halt to funding for the Palestinian relief agency, UNRWA, and quit the UN cultural agency UNESCO. He has also announced plans to pull out of the Paris climate deal and the World Health Organization.
The United Nations is running short of funds, partly but not solely because of the United States. Whereas Washington had sponsored USAID in developing nations, the world body has to cope with more gaps than ever in meeting its obligations.
What humanitarian work does the UN do?
The UN attempts to supply aid through its agencies such as the World Food Program (WFP), the World Health Organization (WHO), the UN children’s fund UNICEF, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the UN Population Fund (UNFPA), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), among others.
This does not mean just distributing food. When they are able, it hands out tents, or special "dignity" kits for women. Without a ceasefire in Gaza, many of its efforts fall by the wayside. Israel has restricted peanut butter as a luxury food. But in many other countries, the supplies continue.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Gutteres, a former Portuguese prime minister, aims to cut the operating budget by 15 percent, or $3.3 billion, and eliminate 2,681 posts. He also met with President Trump for the first time. Earlier requests had been ignored.
Of course, the staff is protesting any cuts. They have families, children in schools, and lives in New York, Geneva, or elsewhere.
The United Nations has turned into a sprawling project of resolutions, agencies, programs and agencies, initiated by member states. So calling it good, evil, or corrupt is the lazy way without investigating its projects, many of them overlapping.
One of Guterres’ major aims is to generate support for his plans to reform the United Nations and make it more responsive to the world. Because of funding cuts by the US and others (on defense spending) the UN announced last week that its regular operating budget for 2026 needs to be cut by 15% to $3.2 billion along with a 19% cut in that budget’s staff positions — 2,681 posts.
As a veteran UN correspondent, "reform" of the United Nations has been a battle cry from the United States and others for years. But no one really says what they mean.
The UN’s efforts at providing humanitarian aid are led by multiple UN agencies such as the World Food Program (WFP), the World Health Organization (WHO), the UN children’s fund UNICEF, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) , the UN Population Fund (UNFPA), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), among others.
Who is here?
Chief UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters there will be 89 heads of state, 5 vice presidents, one crown prince, and 45 heads of government at UN headquarters this week.
Delegates spend a lot of time talking to each other, so 1642 bilateral meetings have been scheduled in a pile of temporary meeting booths.
We've had enough. The 1% own and operate the corporate media. They are doing everything they can to defend the status quo, squash dissent and protect the wealthy and the powerful. The Common Dreams media model is different. We cover the news that matters to the 99%. Our mission? To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. How? Nonprofit. Independent. Reader-supported. Free to read. Free to republish. Free to share. With no advertising. No paywalls. No selling of your data. Thousands of small donations fund our newsroom and allow us to continue publishing. Can you chip in? We can't do it without you. Thank you.