https://www.cnn.com/2026/09/21/world/unga-2026-what-to-expect-latam-intl
Last week I listened to many UN speeches. This week I expect to see reactions, summaries and opinions on the General Assembly as a whole. Meanwhile, I was fascinated in what individual leaders and delegates had to say and how they conducted themselves.
When the President of the European Council, António Costa, addressed the General Assembly on behalf of the EU on Thursday 24 September, he said
Alone, no country can:
prevent a pandemic,
stabilize the climate,
secure resilient supply chains,
regulate artificial intelligence,
ensure financial stability or deliver sustainable development.
Alone, no country, however powerful, can build lasting peace.
He clearly identified six major world topics that would provide the framework for all other speeches.
If I had thought ahead I would have made a scorecard for each speaker with three categories:
Adult - refreshingly mature and cogent
Bully - childish bragging and blaming behavior
Obfuscator - fluffing word count, rambling, or not researching
Because I did not keep score, I can’t remember who was who except for the standouts.
I was able to find transcripts for most UN speeches except for Anita Anand. Her speech was paraphrased to several short articles that did not do it justice. You may want to watch her on YouTube to get the full effect of her eloquent words. There was one phrase she used that seems to be a Canadian motto, “Focus on what we can control” - good words for all of us.
Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand
Anand said state sovereignty “has been treated with disdain” but that Canada will defend that principle, and work toward stability and common rules.
She said that is why Canada is calling for a just peace in Ukraine, self-determination for Palestinians and Israelis, and an end to hate-based violence.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Espen Barth Eide of Norway
International law is not a menu you can choose from at will. It must be upheld universally. When we condemn Russia’s clear violation of international law in Ukraine, it is equally important to speak out against Israel’s violations of the same rules in Palestine. International law is only relevant if it is enforced.
President of France Emauuel Macron
France continues to provide both political and operational support to international mechanisms of justice, investigation, and evidence-gathering, notably fact-finding missions, and why we continue, and will continue, to support the International Court of Justice and its central role. We cannot accept the new order of impunity that some would like to build.
President of the United States Donald Trump
The Cuban regime has also spent decades coordinating with the left-wing radicals and communist networks here in the United States. As our State Department has detailed, they’ve cultivated ties to subversive and radical groups such as the Communist Party USA, Antifa, and the “Dumocrat” Socialists of America. Communism will never be coming to America — but freedom will be coming to Cuba and safety and security will be coming to Mexico.
(Remember, there is no “B” in the word dumb.)
In response Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla
slammed U.S. foreign policy, accusing the Trump administration of carrying out a
“ruthless siege” and imposing an illegal “energy blockade” designed to suffocate the island’s economy.
Speaking before world leaders, Rodríguez warned that international law and the fundamental principles of the UN are under “permanent attack” due to expanding global militarism and economic coercion. He cited an escalating series of hostile U.S. measures introduced since early 2026, which he characterized as an act of war aimed at forcing a humanitarian crisis in Cuba.
A Hypothetical Score Card
Based on the quotes I provided, you can score each speaker:
Adult - refreshingly mature and cogent
Bully - childish bragging and blaming behavior
Obfuscator - fluffing word count, rambling, or not researching
Updated September 25, 2026
Donald Trump has yet again hit an all-time approval rating low. As of today, his net approval is sitting at -22.4.
Has Donald Trump’s lame-duck era already begun?
[T]he President may be brought low this fall not by the Democrats who would crawl over broken glass to defeat him but by the very voters who sent him back to the White House in the first place. Iran, it seems, may finally have done what January 6th and all the rest of Trump’s countless misdeeds could not.
Trump has been called the Bully in Chief. Here are three of many articles covering the topic over the years.
What is an Adult Bully? “Like child bullies, adult bullies may use strategies such as intimidation, exclusion, and harassment, however adult bullies can also be more sly, subtle, and difficult to expose.” Bullies are often, but not necessarily, sociopaths. According to Charles Ray, May 18, 2025
In an April, 2025 op-ed titled "The White House Has Become the Bates Motel" Robert Kahn includes the traits of a sociopath.
— lack of conscience, habitual lying, aggressive and manipulative behaviors, and absolute unconcern for people one has injured — are also, or could be, in many ways, the “attributes” of a “successful” businessman.
I could go on and show how “successful” Trump was and is as a businessman but I will leave that for you to Google on your own.
Trump has left many of his followers with buyer’s remorse.
He continues to blame the high cost of diesel on Ukraine and not his war of choice with Iran.
Meanwhile, Russia has increased attacks on the civilians of Ukraine and is committing war crimes. Ukraine is surgically targeting Russian oil refineries, fuel depots, logistics hubs, and industrial sites. Putin targets maternity hospitals as part of their genocidal goals.
I will end with Nietzsche’s quote referenced by Anita Anand.
He who fights with monsters might take care lest he thereby become a monster.
Did you watch any of the UNGA speeches? I would love to hear what you took away from them or any other thoughts you have.
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