‘No Global Government, No Global Taxes’: Trump’s Blunt Message At UNGA

Washington: US President Donald Trump delivered a blunt message on global governance and taxation while addressing the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), asserting that the United States would not accept the authority of any global government or global taxation system.

“There is no global government. And while I’m president, there will be no global taxes,” Trump said during his address. Trump also launched a sharp attack on the International Criminal Court (ICC), describing it as an “out-of-control institution” and an “anti-American tribunal” that, according to him, has no jurisdiction over the United States.

“The United States is equally opposed to the out-of-control institution known as the International Criminal Court. We will never allow U.S. members or anyone else to be investigated or given show trials by an anti-American tribunal with no jurisdiction over us,” he said. 

Calling the ICC a “rogue institution”, Trump further urged countries that are members of the court to withdraw from it.

“You're an evil group of people. I call on all nations that are members of the ICC to officially resign from this rogue institution immediately,” Trump said.

Trump Puts US Strength At Centre Of UN Address

The US president also used the speech to project American strength across technology, the economy and national security. On artificial intelligence, Trump argued that the phrase “artificial intelligence” should give way to what he called “superintelligence”.

"From this point forward, all of the United States documents and hopefully the world's will be changed to use the much more accurate term super as opposed to artificial. So it's super intelligence," said Trump.

"Welcome to the new world of superintelligence," he added. Trump described the race for advanced AI as a major global contest, saying the country that leads in the technology would hold a significant advantage.

"Every major new technology brings challenges, and super intelligence is no exception," said Trump. “Whoever wins super intelligence wins. That's the group that wins. And we're leading now over China by a lot and everyone else. And we're going to keep it that way.”

He also highlighted the US economy, saying employment was rising, poverty had reached new lows and tax cuts were strengthening the country. "The entire world is being lifted by the wealth, strength, spirit and momentum of a newly energized and a very powerful United States of America," said Trump.

Iran, Cuba And Greenland Feature In Trump’s Global Message

The ongoing war with Iran was another major part of Trump's address. After months of unsuccessful negotiations and continued fighting, he said he expected Tehran to reach an agreement with Washington after the November midterm elections.

"I believe we'll make a deal right after the election, because it doesn't make sense for them not to. They're waiting to see how I do in the midterm election. What they don't realize is that I'm not running. I did that already and won in a landslide," said Trump.

Trump said that US military intervention had stopped Tehran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and that he had inherited the Iran issue from earlier administrations. Additionally, he called on European nations to acknowledge the broader security ramifications of Iran's nuclear aspirations.

"I hope the Europeans realize that Iran's goal was to complete their mad dash to a nuclear bomb from behind this conventional ballistic missile shield," said Trump. "If they had succeeded, that wicked regime would have been free to spread terror and death forever, knowing that any attempt to stop them would face an arsenal."

He urged nations to back what he called the "complete economic isolation of Iran" and commended the UN Security Council for denouncing Iran's attacks on commercial vessels.

Speaking about Cuba, Trump stated that "fundamental change" on the island would follow talks between Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Cuban leaders.

"Communism will never be coming to America, but freedom will be coming to Cuba," said Trump.

He further accused the Cuban government of maintaining links with left-wing and communist groups in the United States, citing the Communist Party USA, Antifa and the Democrat Socialists of America. Cuban officials left their seats after Trump referred to Cuba as a “failed state”.

Greenland also featured prominently in Trump's remarks. A trilateral security pact between the US, Denmark, and Greenland was recently announced by the government. According to Trump, the deal would stop US enemies from deploying troops or making delicate investments in Greenland without US consent. Additionally, he declared that two US military sites would be constructed there.

After his UNGA remarks, Trump is expected to sign the deal with Greenland Prime Minister Nielsen and Danish Prime Minister Frederiksen. First Lady Melania Trump, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, and US Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz all attended the event.