Trump questions the usefulness of the United Nations

He denounces that recognizing the Palestinian state is "too great a reward" for Hamas and points out that "everyone" is demanding that he be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

US President Donald Trump questioned the usefulness of the United Nations during his address to the UN General Assembly on Tuesday, accusing it of failing to help him achieve his goal of ending wars around the world.

"If that's the case, what's the point of the United Nations?" the Republican leader declared in his first address to the organization since returning to power last January.

Trump, a vocal critic of multilateral organizations , began his speech by mocking the UN because, he said, the General Assembly's teleprompter was broken and, minutes earlier, he had gotten stuck in one of the building's escalators.

In front of representatives from the various countries, Trump claimed to have ended seven wars in just a few months of his term , referring to the truces, some of them weak, reached between Cambodia and Thailand; Kosovo and Serbia; the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda; Pakistan and India; Israel and Iran; Egypt and Ethiopia; and Armenia and Azerbaijan.

"It's a shame I had to do these things instead of the United Nations. And sadly, in every case, the United Nations didn't even try to help in any of them. I ended seven wars, dealt directly with the leaders of each of these countries, and I didn't even receive a phone call from the UN offering to help close the deals," he denounced.

Trump stressed that the UN "has tremendous potential," but is not utilizing it: "All they seem to do is write very strongly worded letters and then never follow up."

He insisted that these "are empty words, but empty words don't solve wars."

The American leader added that "everyone" is calling for him to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his achievements, but asserted that he's not after accolades: "What matters to me is not winning prizes, but saving lives."

Trump also used his speech to argue that the recognition of the Palestinian state by several countries represents a "reward" for Hamas .

"We cannot forget October 7th. And now, as if to encourage continued conflict, some in this body seek to unilaterally recognize a Palestinian state? The rewards for Hamas terrorists' atrocities would be too great ," Trump said during his remarks.

Trump accused the Islamist group Hamas of refusing to "release the hostages or accept a ceasefire" and asserted that they have "repeatedly rejected reasonable offers to make peace."

"This could have been resolved long ago, but instead of caving to Hamas's ransom demands, those who desire peace should be united in one message: Release the hostages now . Just release the hostages now," Trump added.