Trump opens U.N. comments with mention of Trump World Tower

President Donald Trump told the United Nations on Monday that he sees “great potential” in it and its reform effort, just as the real estate mogul said he saw in his Manhattan skyscraper, Trump World Tower, located across the street from the U.N. headquarters.

Nikki Haley, the U.S. ambassador to the U.N., introduced the president at a session on reforming the United Nations at the U.N. General Assembly in New York with a nod to his success as a businessman.


“It is now my honor to introduce someone who is no stranger to change. Donald Trump has a businessman’s eye for seeing potential, and he sees great potential — not just in the reform movement but in the United Nations itself,” Haley said. “He shares your commitment to creating a more effective advocate for peace, security and human rights. We are deeply grateful he has taken the time to be with us today. Ladies and gentlemen, President Donald J. Trump.”

Trump thanked Haley for the introduction and paused for a brief applause. “I actually saw great potential right across the street, to be honest with you,” the president said, referring to Trump World Tower. “And it was only for the reason that the United Nations was here that that turned out to be such a successful project.”

The president, who stayed overnight in Trump Tower on Fifth Avenue, spoke for four minutes, reading remarks endorsing U.N. Secretary General António Guterres’ reform effort and affirming America’s commitment to the U.N.

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“We support your efforts to look across the entire system and to find ways the United Nations can better and be better at development, management, peace and security,” Trump said.

But while the U.N. has helped advance its “truly noble goals,” he continued, it’s failed to reach its full potential in recent years “because of bureaucracy and mismanagement.” And despite a larger budget and staff since 2000, he said, member nations aren’t seeing sufficient results.

“But I know that under the secretary general, that’s changing — and it’s changing fast — and we’ve seen it,” Trump said, applauding Guterres for focusing “more on people and less on bureaucracy.” “Mr. Secretary General, the United States and member states present today support this great reform vision. We pledge to be partners in your work, and I am confident that if we work together and champion truly bold reforms, the United Nations will emerge as a stronger, more effective, more just and greater force for peace and harmony in the world.”

As he exited the U.N., the president suggested his message to the General Assembly will be similar to his message to the American people during the 2016 campaign. The president will deliver a U.N. address on Tuesday.

“I think the main message is ‘Make the United Nations Great,’” said Trump, whose campaign slogan was “Make America Great Again.” “Not again. ‘Make the United Nations Great.’”