Trump Slams Iran as 'Thugs' and Cuba as 'Failed Nation' from UN Podium

U.S. President Donald Trump took to the podium at the UN headquarters in New York on September 22 (local time), attended by world leaders and diplomats, and launched scathing attacks, calling Iran a "rogue" and Cuba a "failed state."

Taking his turn as the second speaker according to custom, President Trump dedicated a significant portion of the first half of his speech to emphasizing the justification for the military operations conducted against Iran over the past six months.

In the process, alluding to major achievements in the military operations against Iran, President Trump stated, "They were the thugs of the Middle East, but they are no longer thugs."

He then mentioned that he "must make a critical decision," raising the possibility of either giving Iran an opportunity for reconstruction through negotiations or "obliterating" it.

It is unusual to unleash such harsh criticisms at the UN General Assembly, where delegations and leaders from various countries gather in one place.

As the intense criticism continued, the Iranian delegation sitting in the General Assembly walked out en masse in protest, leaving behind only one working-level mission staff member.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi had not entered the General Assembly hall during President Trump's speech to begin with.

President Trump's harsh rhetoric extended toward Cuba as well.

Directing his remarks at Cuba, President Trump stated, "Our administration is seeking fundamental change in the situation in Cuba," defining it as "a completely failed nation."

He further claimed that it is "collapsing as never before and will ultimately collapse."

The Cuban delegation sitting in the General Assembly also walked out of the hall during President Trump's remarks.

Although the UN General Assembly is a venue where world leaders gather to emphasize multilateralism and international cooperation, President Trump's speech on this day effectively became a stage to directly pressure countries that have confronted the United States.

Following last year, President Trump criticized the UN again this year.

He asserted that the UN "must not force the far-left agendas of unelected globalist bureaucrats onto sovereign nations."

Regarding the International Criminal Court (ICC), which he has threatened to dismantle for infringing upon U.S. sovereignty, he referred to it as an "out-of-control institution" and a "rogue institution," urging member states to withdraw.

Upon arriving at the UN headquarters on the morning of this day, President Trump also vented his frustrations toward the press.

Spotting a CNN reporter among the media outlets covering him and other world leaders arriving at the UN General Assembly hall, he remarked, "I am surprised CNN is here covering me," adding, "You shouldn't be here."

President Trump has previously banned White House access for three media outlets—CNN, MSNBC, and Politico—under the pretext of reporting "fake news" about him.

Anti-Trump protests also took place outside the UN headquarters on this day.

Hundreds of demonstrators held placards and chanted slogans in the streets near the UN General Assembly hall, staging street protests even before President Trump's speech began.

(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.