President Donald Trump addressed the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Tuesday, delivering a speech that touched on Artificial Intelligence (AI) regulation, relations with Iran, and media coverage of his administration. His remarks signaled a firm rejection of international efforts to regulate AI and a continuation of his confrontational stance toward certain news organizations.
In his speech, Trump announced he would rename AI as "Super Intelligence," arguing that the term "artificial" downplays the technology's true capabilities. He dismissed global calls for regulatory frameworks, insisting that the United States must maintain leadership in the rapidly evolving sector, particularly in competition with China. “Whoever wins Super Intelligence wins,” Trump said, emphasizing the strategic importance of technological dominance. He also criticized what he described as alarmist predictions about AI threatening humanity, likening them to earlier climate change warnings, which he characterized as exaggerated.
The U.S. president’s comments came amid growing international concern about AI safety. In his opening address, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged countries to collaborate on safety standards and warned against delegating life-and-death decisions to machines. He specifically called for a ban on autonomous weapons, or "killer robots." The day before, representatives from 22 nations issued a statement calling for the creation of an international body to oversee AI development and safety reporting, with Finland's President Alexander Stubb suggesting a model based on the International Atomic Energy Agency.
Despite these appeals, Trump insisted that the United States would not support what he described as a "globalist scheme" aimed at controlling AI. He outlined his vision of promoting, rather than restricting, AI innovation, citing the Department of Justice’s use of AI tools as an example of its potential benefits. Trump underscored the importance of sustaining U.S. leadership in the technology, particularly ahead of an upcoming summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Changing focus, Trump also spoke about the ongoing tensions with Iran, suggesting a possible shift in U.S. policy following the midterm elections. He posed a stark choice between reaching a diplomatic deal with Tehran or pursuing a more aggressive approach that would "annihilate" the Islamic Republic. The president expressed hope for negotiations after the election, saying it "doesn’t make sense" for Iran to avoid a deal, but also warned of potential severe consequences if diplomacy failed.
Separately, tensions between the Trump administration and the media remained evident. The president confronted CNN reporter Kaitlan Collins on the sidelines of the UN gathering, reiterating his administration’s decision to bar CNN from White House events, citing the network’s coverage as “fiction and lies.” Following the ban on several media outlets, including Politico and MSNBC, other broadcasters boycotted the presidential press pool in solidarity. In response, the White House launched a dedicated YouTube channel, dubbed "Trump TV," to disseminate its messaging directly to the public. Meanwhile, the excluded news organizations are seeking legal measures to restore their access.
The United Nations General Assembly session continues to be a platform for vocal and at times contentious exchanges on global governance, technological competition, and U.S. foreign policy under the Trump administration.