In U.N. speech, Trump threatens to "annihilate" Iran and defends handling of global conflicts

Updated on: September 22, 2026 / 7:38 PM EDT / CBS News

In U.N. speech, Trump threatens to "annihilate" Iran and defends handling of global conflicts

TL;DR

  • President Trump defended his foreign policy record at the UN General Assembly, emphasizing his actions over talk.
  • He threatened to "annihilate" Iran if a deal isn't reached, but predicted a deal would be made post-midterm elections.
  • Trump highlighted U.S. intervention in Venezuela and a new security agreement with Greenland.
  • He discussed relations with China, dismissing reports of Chinese entities assisting Iran.
  • The President also commented on artificial intelligence, suggesting a rebranding to 'superintelligence' or 'SI'.
  • Media access to the president's UN meetings was restricted, leading to a lawsuit from several news organizations.