Trump Seeks UN Win Before Midterms Amid Low Approval

President Trump is heading to the United Nations General Assembly this week with a lot riding on his shoulders. His approval ratings have dipped below 40%, weighed down by growing concerns about economic fallout from the Iran war and backlash over his decision to ban CNN, MSNBC, and Politico from the White House. Those news organizations have already sued to regain access.

With midterm elections less than two months away, Trump is banking on a high-profile diplomatic week to generate some much-needed wins. He’ll address world leaders Tuesday before hosting Chinese President Xi Jinping in Washington later in the week.

The Peacemaker Pitch

Expect Trump to lean heavily into his “peacemaker” narrative at the UN. He’s planning to highlight peace deals announced around the world while defending his controversial Iran policy. U.S. Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz told reporters the president will showcase how he and his administration “have confronted complex problems head-on around the world” and emphasize “the importance of ensuring that Iran never has a nuclear weapon.”

Trump’s UN track record is colorful, to say the least. In 2017, he threatened to “totally destroy North Korea.” The following year, he boasted his administration had accomplished more than any other in American history, prompting audible laughter from some leaders. Last year, he blasted the UN itself, asking leaders why their countries “are going to hell.” The bar for “diplomatic success” may be lower this time around.

He’ll likely tout his recently announced Greenland security deal with Denmark as another feather in his cap.

The Real Drama Happens Off-Stage

Here’s the twist: Trump will defend his Iran strike while standing face-to-face with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, who is expected to speak the day after Trump. The tension between them will be palpable, but according to experts, the real diplomacy happens in the margins.

Richard Fontaine, who served in the George W. Bush White House and now runs the Center for a New American Security, put it bluntly: “The meat of the diplomacy will be done in the private meetings, not at the UN Security Council or in the UN General Assembly.”

Trump is scheduled to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, British Prime Minister Andy Burnham, Gulf leaders, and Venezuela’s interim President Delcy Rodriguez. These one-on-one encounters will likely matter far more than any speech.

The Xi Factor Changes Everything

Here’s what makes this week truly unusual: the most important conversation won’t happen in New York at all. It’ll happen in Washington, where Trump is hosting Chinese President Xi Jinping for a state dinner. Heather Conley, who worked on European issues in the Bush State Department, nailed the paradox: “In many ways we have global leaders coming to New York to offer their own set piece speeches, how they look at the world. But the world will not be looking towards New York on Wednesday and Thursday of this week. They’re going to be looking at Washington.”

The absence of Xi from the UN is telling. So many pressing global issues, from artificial intelligence to trade tensions, revolve around China. A UN panel recently called for stronger safeguards on AI agents, and leaders hope to reach some kind of global agreement on guardrails for the advancing technology. Without Xi in the room, those conversations feel incomplete.

Struggling Institutions

The UN Security Council has also struggled to reach agreement on key issues, further undermining the institution’s relevance. What was once the epicenter of international diplomacy has become more ceremonial, with the real power shifting to bilateral meetings and backroom negotiations.

Trump’s appearance represents the modern reality of international relations: leaders show up to make speeches, but the work gets done elsewhere. And this week, that elsewhere is the White House.

Source: NPR