By Matt Underwood Trump blasts the UN for not ‘living up’ to its potential, and honestly, it feels like he delivered a greatest hits collection of his usual tirades, filled with the same old lies and nonsensical talking points. The man jumped from child sex trafficking to criticizing Germany and then somehow ended up ranting about windmills. It was a whirlwind of incoherence, bordering on the insane, with the core message, “Climate change is a hoax,” echoing throughout. He even went as far as to suggest that “radical environmentalists” want to “kill all the cows.” It was hard not to think, “Did this really happen?”
The speech itself sounded like a collection of rambling grievances, much like the infamous pronouncements of Gaddafi, prompting comparisons to a blabbering toddler. The audacity of it all was astonishing, especially when he took credit for supposedly stopping fifteen wars in just seven months. It was a spectacle of idiocy. The impact of his actions will be felt for decades, potentially setting back American influence and legitimacy on the world stage. Some even questioned whether the UN headquarters should remain in the US, considering the burden the country apparently feels it is.
Trump’s assertion that the UN isn’t fulfilling its potential is a point of contention, given the organization’s vital role in averting global conflicts since its inception. The sentiment that the US needs to play a more constructive role is also worth noting. His actions, like blocking the attendance of Palestinian representatives, have undeniably eroded the diplomatic goodwill the United States had carefully cultivated over decades. It’s truly difficult to imagine a more effective method for someone to make an ass of themselves. He opened his address to the UN by focusing on issues like US tax cuts and poll numbers, topics that seemed irrelevant to the global audience he was addressing.
The truth is, the UN does have its limitations. It can’t compel, it can’t enforce everything, and it mainly serves as a platform for countries to talk, which, in itself, isn’t nothing. There is the issue of veto power and how it is misused. Maybe a reformed UN would be criticized as an unelected body controlling the world. The world often ignores the UN’s resolutions, which limits its influence and effectiveness. The US and Russia have taken turns vetoing Security Council measures throughout the UN’s history. One of the key aspects of a better UN is for the big players to get along. The UN is also more successful than a lot of people would like to admit. The speech highlighted the UN’s failures, while failing to mention all of its successes.
It’s a place where major world powers can stay in touch and prevent nuclear conflicts. But the rest of it, realistically, is not very effective. In many ways, the UN has failed to meet the expectations many had for it. The reality is, the US has been undermining both the UN and NATO since 2016. It’s a stark contrast from when the US was seen as a leader within these organizations. The situation underscores the need for mechanisms to mitigate the impact of egocentric leaders.