“It used to be global cooling … They said global warming will kill the world, but then it started getting cooler. So now they just call it climate change,” he said. “If it goes higher, lower, whatever the hell happens, there’s climate change. It’s the greatest con job ever perpetrated on the world, in my opinion.”
Trump said the dire predictions about global warming’s impact on the earth were made by “stupid people” who had cost their countries a fortune in economic growth.
Trump’s remarks were occasionally met with murmurs from the audience, who appeared to grow restless as the speech went on.Credit: Bloomberg
“I’m really good at predicting things,” he said, citing a popular MAGA hat and T-shirt slogan that says: Trump Was Right About Everything.
“I don’t say that in a braggadocios way, but it’s true – I’ve been right about everything. And I’m telling you that if you don’t get away from the green energy scam, your country is going to fail.
“The carbon footprint is a hoax made up by people with evil intentions, and they’re heading down a path of total destruction.”
In the hall of the United Nations General Assembly, some of Trump’s remarks were met with murmurs. As his speech continued past the 40-minute mark, a handful of delegates left the room, appearing to grow restless.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Foreign Minister Penny Wong attend the United Nations General Assembly.Credit: Dominic Lorrimer
Trump pointed out the sacrifices Europe made to reduce carbon emissions had been wiped out by increases in China and other developing nations. There was therefore no point having clean air, he asserted.
“The problem is that other countries, like China, which has air that’s a little bit rough – it blows,” Trump said, gesturing to indicate the wind’s movement.
“And no matter what you’re doing down there, the air up here tends to get very dirty because it comes in from other countries. And the environmentalists refuse to acknowledge that.”
The US president also delivered his strongest remarks to date on the war between Russia and Ukraine, saying that while he was prepared to unleash a round of powerful tariffs against nations that buy Russian oil, the US could not do it alone.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese spoke with President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky on the floor of the UN General Assembly.Credit: Dominic Lorrimer
He shamed Europe for continuing to buy Russian oil and gas and “funding the war against themselves” – although the European Commission says import bans currently cover 90 per cent of Russian oil.
“Europe has to step it up. They can’t be doing what they’re doing. They’re buying oil and gas from Russia while they’re fighting Russia. It’s embarrassing to them,” Trump said.
“They have to immediately cease all energy purchases from Russia. Otherwise, we’re all wasting a lot of time … I’m sure they’re thrilled to hear me speak about it, but that’s the way it is, I like to speak my mind.”
On the situation in the Middle East, Trump criticised the decisions of Australia, Canada, France, the United Kingdom and other nations to recognise Palestine as a sovereign state at this United Nations meeting.
First Lady Melania Trump watches as her husband addresses the UN.Credit: Dominic Lorrimer
Without naming any country, he said the decision encouraged continued conflict and rewarded the terrorist group Hamas for its atrocities, including the October 7 attack on Israel in which militants killed about 1200 Israelis and took 250 hostages.
“Instead of giving in to Hamas’ ransom demands, those who want peace should be united with one message: release the hostages now,” Trump said to applause from some delegates.
As the White House flagged, the US president repeatedly attacked the United Nations itself, and condemned globalism. He accused the UN of foisting open borders, climate change policies and multilateral agreements upon developed nations, and said he had proudly withdrawn the US from the “fake” Paris Climate Accord.
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“The entire globalist concept of asking successful industrialised nations to inflict pain on themselves and radically disrupt their entire societies must be rejected completely and totally, and it must be immediate.”
After Trump’s 55-minute address, most of the delegates clapped politely, including Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Foreign Minister Penny Wong.
Trump’s UN visit was also marked by logistical hiccups, which he made light of in his address. An escalator stopped working the moment Trump and First Lady Melania Trump stepped onto it, while the teleprompter failed as he began his speech.
“I ended seven wars … and never even received a phone call from the United Nations offering to help,” he said.
“All I got from the United Nations was an escalator that on the way up stopped right in the middle … and then a teleprompter that didn’t work. These are the two things I got from the United Nations: a bad escalator and a bad teleprompter. Thank you very much.”
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