President Donald Trump is expected to sharply criticize the United Nations during his upcoming address to the General Assembly, focusing on allegations of war crimes against U.S. forces and broader concerns about the organization's effectiveness. The speech, scheduled for Tuesday, will follow up on his remarks from last year, when he condemned the UN for offering what he called “empty words” that fail to resolve conflicts.

U.S. Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz, speaking ahead of the assembly, highlighted that Trump will address a recent report by the UN Human Rights Council, a Geneva-based body. The council released findings suggesting that U.S. service members may have been involved in alleged war crimes in Iran. Waltz emphasized that these allegations remain under investigation by the Pentagon and noted that even if civilian casualties occur, they would be unintended and collateral rather than deliberate.

Waltz drew a contrast between U.S. military actions and actions taken by the Iranian government, citing claims that Iran’s regime has killed thousands of its own citizens in a short period. He described the UN’s moral equivalency between the two as “ridiculous,” asserting that such comparisons undermine the positive work some UN bodies perform.

In addition to addressing war crimes allegations, Trump is anticipated to reiterate themes of national sovereignty and critique international judicial institutions such as the International Criminal Court. According to Waltz, Trump will defend an “America First” foreign policy, which has influenced changes to the UN’s budget and operations.

The ambassador also indicated that Trump plans to press the UN to return to its original mission, focusing on facilitating peace agreements around the world. Waltz pointed to ongoing efforts in conflict zones such as Ukraine, Azerbaijan, and Armenia, underscoring the difficulty of achieving diplomatic progress and the need for UN support in these areas.

Ahead of his speech, the UN Security Council is scheduled to hold meetings addressing the Russia-Ukraine conflict as well as the increasing role of artificial intelligence. Trump’s remarks come at a time when the United States is seeking to shape international discourse on global security, accountability, and institutional reform within the UN system.