Trump Returns to the UN Stage with Fire and Fury

In his comeback address to the 80th U.N. General Assembly, U.S. President Donald Trump wasted no time taking aim at global institutions. From ridiculing the United Nations as ineffective to blasting migration policies and dismissing climate change as “the greatest con job ever perpetrated on the world”, Trump struck a defiant and isolationist tone.

At one point, he asked: “What is the purpose of the United Nations? All they seem to do is write a really strongly worded letter. It’s empty words, and empty words don’t solve war.”

He even mocked technical glitches — complaining about a broken escalator and teleprompter at the UN headquarters.

The Climate Denial That Stole the Spotlight

What triggered the loudest reaction from world leaders was his outright rejection of climate science. Trump claimed climate predictions were wrong and driven by “stupid people”. His words drew silent disbelief — and in some cases visible discomfort — from delegates.

But here’s the problem: his claims don’t match reality. The overwhelming majority of scientists agree that climate change is real, human-driven, and already wreaking havoc across the globe.

Prof. Corinne Le Quéré of the University of East Anglia warned: “Mr Trump is endangering the lives and wellbeing of Americans and people around the world by wrongly denying the realities of climate change.”

What the Science Actually Says

Trump’s dismissal of global warming is at odds with decades of evidence:

2024 was the hottest year ever recorded.

Extreme weather events have cost the global economy over $2 trillion in the past decade.

Renewable energy is now cheaper than fossil fuels in most parts of the world.

Prof. Mark Maslin of UCL noted bluntly: “Much of what Trump said was factually incorrect, deeply misleading and simply wrong. Extreme weather events we’re seeing today would not have occurred without human-caused climate change — fact.”

Politics, Power, and the Fossil Fuel Question

So why double down on denial? Analysts say Trump’s rhetoric isn’t just about disbelief — it’s about power. Casting doubt on climate science strengthens ties with the fossil fuel industry and appeals to his political base, which often views green energy policies as economic burdens.

As Alexis McGivern of Oxford Net Zero put it: “Trump and his advisors know climate change is not a hoax. Undermining confidence in experts is politically expedient, serving their increasingly authoritarian regime.”

Global Reactions: Disbelief and Concern

UN Secretary-General António Guterres, opening the summit, warned that U.S.-led aid cuts and climate backtracking were “wreaking havoc”. Many European leaders shook their heads as Trump spoke, while scientists worldwide rushed to call his remarks reckless.

Prof. Hannah Cloke of the University of Reading said: “Trump’s rhetoric cannot change the laws of physics. Human activity and fossil fuels are heating our planet, with impacts everywhere in the world.”

Why It Matters for All of Us

Trump’s remarks are not just political theater — they could influence global momentum on climate action. At a time when nations are struggling to meet Net Zero pledges, such denial risks slowing down urgently needed solutions.

And here’s the bigger question for readers: Do we want to place our trust in evidence and science — or gamble on rhetoric that dismisses reality?

Conclusion: The “Con Job” That Isn’t

Trump’s UN address may have been designed to rally his base and irritate his opponents, but climate science remains rock solid. The impacts — from extreme heatwaves to rising seas — don’t bend to ideology.

As Prof. Joeri Rogelj of Imperial College said: “Dismissing climate change is as grotesque as it is wrong. Refusing to believe in thermometers will not make the warming go away.”

The real con job, then, isn’t climate science — it’s pretending that denial will shield us from the storms ahead.