Just hours after sharply criticizing the United Nations in his General Assembly address, President Donald Trump adopted a noticeably softer tone during a bilateral meeting with UN Secretary-General António Guterres.
While his speech had been marked by complaints about malfunctioning equipment and pointed attacks on the organization’s effectiveness, Trump opened the meeting by striking a conciliatory note.
“It’s always an honor to be here. We’ve done this before, and this was a little more exciting because of the escalator, the teleprompter — these things happen,” Trump remarked, referencing the earlier malfunctions that had disrupted his speech. “But I will tell you that your people have treated us with great respect. Our country is behind the United Nations 100 percent.”
The shift in tone came as Trump sought to balance his criticism of the UN with a public reaffirmation of U.S. engagement in the organization. His comments to Guterres suggested that, despite frustrations, Washington remains committed to working with the UN on global challenges.
The meeting highlighted Trump’s often dual approach: fiery rhetoric onstage, followed by more measured diplomacy behind closed doors.
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