The MeidasTouch Podcast

Episode: Trump Gives Disaster UN Speech as Teleprompter Breaks

Date: September 24, 2025
Hosts: Ben, Brett and Jordy Meiselas

Overview

In this episode, the Meiselas brothers provide an in-depth and often scathing breakdown of Donald Trump's latest speech at the United Nations General Assembly. The main theme is Trump's disastrous and chaotic UN address—a spectacle marked by technical failures (a broken escalator and teleprompter), increasingly bizarre and off-script commentary, combative rhetoric towards other countries, and surreal self-congratulation. The hosts use their signature banter and humor to highlight the absurdity and seriousness of the moment, focusing on the implications for American democracy and global perceptions of the United States.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Escalator Fiasco and Teleprompter Fail (02:50–04:45)

• Ben, the host, sets the tone:
  “Donald Trump just wrapped up his speech at the United Nations. I mean, just look at him right here. He looked awful. It was one of the most bizarre and disastrous speeches I've ever seen him give, or frankly, anyone give. And that's saying a lot.” (02:50)
• Trump couldn't initially get up the escalator, which broke down as he approached.
• Right before the speech begins, the teleprompter shuts off, forcing Trump to improvise.
• The brothers mockingly congratulate whoever orchestrated the technical problems: “Whoever’s behind that? Well done, well done, well done.” (02:59, Ben)

Notable quote – Trump (after teleprompter fails):
"I don't mind making this speech without a teleprompter because the teleprompter is not working. I feel very happy to be up here with you, nevertheless, and that way you speak more from the heart.” (04:51)

Trump Instantly Off-Message, Embarrassing U.S. (04:45–06:15)

• Trump opens with a tangent about once bidding to renovate the UN building—centered on himself as a real estate developer.
• Brett observes the self-centeredness as “utterly embarrassing.”
• The hosts set up recurring international reactions, quoting foreign diplomats:
  “How are you in the United States not humiliated by this?” (06:15)

Attack on World Leaders and Self-Congratulation (05:09–09:17)

• Trump lambasts UN representatives:
  "You're destroying your countries. They're being destroyed. Europe is in serious trouble. They've been invaded by a force of illegal aliens…” (05:23)
• He makes false claims about the U.S. economy, taking credit for a “golden age” and reversing an “economic calamity.”
• Trump’s bombast, denial of reality, and on-the-spot attacks prompt the hosts to note:
  “The people who were there at the United Nations representing the other countries were like, oh my god, this guy is actually deranged.” (06:59, Ben)

Notable quote – Trump:
“This is indeed the golden age of America. We are rapidly reversing the economic calamity we inherited from the previous administration, including ruinous price increases and record setting inflation. ... The only thing that's up is the stock market, which just hit a record high.” (07:01)

Targeting Specific Countries & Bizarre Boasts (09:17–11:35)

• Attacks on London and its mayor, invoking Islamophobic tropes and “Sharia law.”
  “I have to say, I look at London, where you have a terrible mayor, Terrible, terrible mayor. ... Now they want to go to Sharia law, but you're in a different country. You can't do that.” (07:49)
• He jokes about U.S. military operations off Venezuela and claims to have eliminated drug smuggling, which the hosts contextualize as disturbing and untruthful.
• Directly attacks Brazil’s government, disparages their legal system, and warns of economic doom without U.S. support.
• Claims to have "stopped seven wars," including the war in Congo and between India and Pakistan—both untrue. Complains about lack of recognition:
  “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.” (10:30)

Notable quote – Trump on frustrating UN experience:
"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." (10:30)

Attacking Renewable Energy, Defending Fossil Fuels (14:56–18:49)

• Labels renewable energy as a “green scam,” insisting global leaders heed his predictions:
  “If you don't get away from this green scam, your country is going to fail. ... Trump was right about everything.” (15:16)
• Denies climate change, calls it a “con job”:
  “It's the greatest con job ever perpetrated on the world, in my opinion. ... If it goes higher or lower, whatever the hell happens is climate change.” (16:39)
• Belittles wind energy, claims renewables are “too expensive” and “don’t work”:
  “The wind doesn't blow. Those big windmills are so pathetic and so bad, so expensive to operate ... Most expensive energy ever conceived.” (18:04)

Distorted Claims on Global Issues & Immigration (18:49–20:53)

• Grossly exaggerates European deaths from heat waves:
  “While the US has approximately 1,300 heat related deaths annually, that's a lot. Europe loses more than 175,000 people to heat deaths each year because the costs are so expensive you can't turn on an air conditioner. What is that all about?” (19:10)
• Rants about Asian countries dumping garbage, claims it drifts to U.S. shores:
  “Same thing with garbage in Asia. They dump much of their garbage right into the ocean. ... Massive amounts of garbage, almost too much to do anything about.” (17:34)
• Closes with nativist rhetoric about “protecting” countries from “different customs, religions, ... different everything”:
  “Proud nations must be allowed to protect their communities and prevent their societies from being overwhelmed by people they have never seen before. With different customs, religions, with different everything.” (20:07)

Media Reaction & Sane-Washing (20:53–22:53)

• The hosts highlight Fox News’ sanitized recap of Trump's speech, showing the disconnect between what actually happened and how it’s presented to their audience:
  “Now Fox sane washes it and pretends that that was a great speech and it was normal. Watch as Harris Faulkner tries to act like this was a normal and courageous and heroic speech. This is how they brainwash their audience.” (21:54, Ben)
• Audio from Harris Faulkner describes Trump’s speech as “raw truth” and “putting a spotlight on the different world order.”

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Ben Meiselas (Host), on the overall speech:
  “This may be the most craziest speech ever given in the United Nations and it's by the President of the United States. I mean, this is just the most embarrassing thing right now.” (15:56)

• Donald Trump, spectrum of self-flattery:
  “Trump was right about everything. And I don't say that in a braggadocious way, but it's true. I've been right about everything.” (15:16)

• Donald Trump, closing nationalist-tinged remarks:
  “Proud nations must be allowed to protect their communities and prevent their societies from being overwhelmed by people they have never seen before. With different customs, religions, with different everything.” (20:07)

Timestamps for Important Segments

| Time | Segment Summary | |------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------| | 02:50–04:45| Trump’s escalator and teleprompter disasters—setup for the fiasco. | | 04:45–06:15| Trump’s egocentric opening, foreign backlash, hosts’ commentary. | | 05:09–09:17| Attacks on foreign leaders/countries, economy boasts, lies. | | 09:17–11:35| Attacking UK, Brazil, Venezuela, seven wars, self-pity. | | 14:56–18:49| “Green scam,” climate denial, wind energy tirade, garbage claims. | | 18:49–20:53| Wild exaggerations on EU heat deaths, nationalist closing. | | 20:53–22:53| Fox News “sanitizing” and amplifying Trump's perspective. |

Conclusion

The MeidasTouch brothers powerfully dissect the content and context of Trump’s “deranged” United Nations address, using both humor and critical analysis to underscore the speech’s disconnect from reality, its national embarrassment, and the dangers of right-wing media misrepresentation. The episode is fast-paced, full of direct quotes and media clips, and captures the chaotic mood around the event. For anyone following American or global politics, this episode provides a riveting, unfiltered summary of a historic—if cringeworthy—moment on the world stage.