Balance of Power – Trump Blasts UN Over Immigration, Climate in Combative Speech

Podcast: Balance of Power
Host: Bloomberg (Joe Mathieu, Kailey Leinz)
Date: September 23, 2025
Main Guests: Mario Parker (Bloomberg Reporter), Tyler Kendall (Bloomberg Reporter at UN), Adam Farrer (Bloomberg Economics Analyst), Rick Davis (Republican Strategist), Jeannie Shanzano (Democratic Analyst), Edgar Rinkevich (President of Latvia)

Episode Overview

This episode centers on former President Donald Trump’s provocative address to the United Nations General Assembly, in which he forcefully criticized the UN, attacked open borders and climate policy, and strongly reaffirmed his America First vision. The hosts and expert guests analyze the speech’s tone, substance, and global reception, including reactions from diplomats and special insight from the President of Latvia on issues of NATO security and relations with Russia.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Trump’s UN Speech: Tone, Themes, and Reception

• America First Doctrine: Trump’s speech doubled down on unilateralism, castigated open borders, and prioritized US sovereignty over international cooperation.
• Combative Rhetoric: The speech broke UN norms by indirectly targeting other countries, declaring, “Your countries are going to hell”—a line the podcast references repeatedly for its audacity.
• UN Critique & US Funding: Trump lambasted the United Nations as “only empty words,” contextualized by the US suspending payments, now over $3 billion in arrears.
• Room’s Reaction: The speech was met with “silence…[and] some moments of laughter” (03:36, Tyler Kendall), reflecting discomfort or skepticism from delegates.

Notable Quote:

"Your countries are going to hell."
— Donald Trump, (03:17, and repeated at 11:45)

Panel Take:

• Mario Parker observes the speech was familiar in style to Trump’s campaign rallies but set on a global stage, with the “new territory” being his aggressive naming and criticism of other countries, rather than just US political foes. (02:04)
• Bloomberg Economics’ Adam Farrer notes the lack of substantive policy change, saying Trump “put himself as the alternative to the United Nations” without delivering specifics on funding or withdrawals. (05:46)

2. Policy Substance: Immigration, Climate, and Trade

• Migration Framed as Existential Crisis: Trump labeled migration as a civilisation-level concern, echoing “America belongs to the American people.”
• Open Borders Rejection: He urged an end to “the failed experiment of open borders.” (03:00, 11:45)
• Climate Change as “Con Job”: Trump described climate change efforts as “the greatest con job ever perpetrated on the world,” claiming that green policies would destroy nations and referencing controversial statistics about the Biden administration and human trafficking. (15:04)
• Trade and Energy: Despite the focus on trade in bilateral meetings, the speech itself addressed energy (pro-fossil fuel) and migration, with Trump touting “traditional energy sources” and a strong borders model. (07:54, Adam Farrer)
• International Relations: Only cursory mentions of China and Russia; Trump expressed frustration with Putin and suggested tariffs (“real punishment”) to force Russia to negotiate on Ukraine—but only if Europe moves further away from Russian oil. (09:06)

Notable Panel Analysis:

“This was a speech full of factual inconsistencies…the case on climate today was exceptionally strong from his point of view…but full of inconsistency.”
— Rick Davis, (15:32)

3. Expert and Diplomatic Reactions

Political Analyst Takes

• Rick Davis (Republican Strategist): Called the speech “a doctrinal speech about America First” and a “big step backwards” for those who believe in American global leadership. (12:48)
• Jeannie Shanzano (Democratic Analyst): Criticized the lack of vision for UN reform on its 80th anniversary and the hostile tone toward allies, saying, “once you got past the teleprompter, the escalator, and the renovations…the world…is less safe.” (14:01)

Diplomatic Insight: President of Latvia

• NATO Defense: President Edgar Rinkevich emphasized the need for a stronger policy to counter Russian incursions and drones, supporting tougher NATO air defense and the idea of a cross-border “drone wall.” (17:55 - 20:47)
• Sanctions on Russia: Backed Trump’s call for secondary sanctions, urging all Europeans to stop buying Russian oil/gas—“they must stop financing the Russian war machine.” (21:39)
• US Funding Cuts: Expressed hope that cooperation would continue despite the Pentagon pulling back funding for Baltic defense, highlighting Latvia’s high defense spending (nearly 5% of GDP). (23:41)
• Diplomatic Response to Trump: Acknowledged Trump’s language was “very strong,” and while it may “wake up” the UN, stressed the importance of common ground—“sometimes you need…very strong language to wake up.” (25:18)
• On Climate Policy: Noted that climate change is “real,” but called for balanced policy debate, cautioning against extremes. (26:44)
• Message to Putin: “My warning would be learn from history. Because pushing the envelope, crossing the line at one point means that you are losing everything.” (28:14)

Memorable Quotes and Moments

• “These are the two things I got from the United Nations: a bad escalator and a bad teleprompter. The words of Donald Trump as he spoke before the UN General Assembly.”
  — Joe Mathieu (Host), 00:50

• “Casting migration as an existential crisis to civilization… defending America and its right to kind of go it alone.”
  — Mario Parker, 02:12

• “Trump saying that the UN is only empty words.”
  — Tyler Kendall, 03:36

• “It had a feeling that the room took him more seriously this time…they aren’t willing to laugh at...big changes in policy.”
  — Adam Farrer, 05:46

• “If you believe in American exceptionalism…you would have been aghast by the speech today.”
  — Rick Davis, 12:48

• “Nothing on the 80th anniversary… but what about China? He barely mentioned our major competitor in China. Almost nothing on Russia, but a lot of vitriolic language on our closest allies…”
  — Jeannie Shanzano, 14:01

Important Timestamps

• 00:50 – Show begins analysis of Trump’s UN speech; introduction of Mario Parker.
• 02:45 – Trump’s speech: “Your countries are going to hell.”
• 03:36 – Tyler Kendall on the room’s reaction—“met with silence…some moments of laughter.”
• 05:46 – Adam Farrer on stylistic and substantive impact of the speech.
• 07:54 – Discussion on the role of trade, energy, and climate themes.
• 09:06 – Analysis of US-Russia-Ukraine dynamics.
• 11:45 – Panel plays another excerpt: Trump on borders and national standards.
• 12:48 – Rick Davis: “a doctrinal speech about America First.”
• 14:01 – Jeannie Shanzano on missed opportunities and UN reform.
• 15:04 – Trump’s climate change rhetoric analyzed.
• 17:15 – Interview with President of Latvia on NATO defense.
• 21:39 – Latvia supports Trump’s call for sanctions on Russia.
• 23:41 – Discussion of Baltic Security Initiative funding.
• 25:18 – Latvia’s diplomatic answer to Trump’s harsh message.
• 26:44 – Latvia’s take on Trump’s energy/climate claims.
• 28:14 – Latvia’s warning to Putin.

Conclusion

This episode highlights the tension between nationalism and multilateralism, with former President Trump using the UN as a platform to push for an uncompromising America First agenda and to voice his skepticism (and often scorn) for global institutions and climate action. The panel and Latvian President’s reactions underscore the speech’s repercussions for allies, US-European relations, and the broader debate on international cooperation versus sovereignty.

For more in-depth analysis and ongoing coverage, tune in to Bloomberg’s Balance of Power podcast weekdays at noon.