President Donald Trump took center stage at the United Nations General Assembly in New York City on September 23, 2025, delivering a speech that was as much a call to action as it was a critique of the status quo. With hundreds of world leaders gathered for the 80th session, Trump announced that his administration would spearhead an international initiative to enforce the Biological Weapons Convention—this time, with the help of artificial intelligence.
“As we seek to reduce the threat of dangerous weapons today, I’m also calling on every nation to join us in ending the development of biological weapons, once and for all,” Trump declared, according to Newsmax. He didn’t stop there, broadening his appeal to include nuclear weapons as well. “Biological is terrible, and nuclear is even beyond and we include nuclear in that. We want to have a cessation of the development of nuclear weapons.”
Trump’s remarks came against the backdrop of lingering global anxiety over the COVID-19 pandemic. He referenced the crisis directly, noting its origins in China in 2019 and the devastation it wrought worldwide. “Just a few years ago, reckless experiments overseas gave us a devastating global pandemic, yet despite that worldwide catastrophe, many countries are continuing to do extremely risky research into bioweapons and man-made pathogens,” Trump said, as reported by NewsNation. The president’s allusion to the lab leak theory—supported by reports from the Republican-led House Oversight Committee and the CIA—was unmistakable. However, Chinese authorities have dismissed such claims as politically motivated, and some scientists continue to point to animal-to-human transmission as the more likely cause, according to the Associated Press.
But Trump wasn’t content to simply lay blame or dwell on past crises. He announced a bold new plan to enforce the Biological Weapons Convention—the international treaty that prohibits the “development, production, acquisition, transfer, stockpiling, and use of biological and toxin weapons”—by pioneering an AI-powered verification system. “To prevent potential disasters, I’m announcing today that my administration will lead an international effort to enforce the Biological Weapons Convention, which is going to be meeting with the top leaders of the world by pioneering an AI verification system that everyone can trust,” Trump said, capturing the room’s attention.
The president’s vision is ambitious: use advanced technology to monitor and verify compliance with international rules on biological weapons, closing loopholes that have allowed dangerous research to continue unchecked. “Hopefully the U.N. can play a constructive role, and it will also go be one of the early projects under AI,” Trump added. “Let’s see how good it is ’cause a lot of people are saying it could be one of the great things ever, but it also can be dangerous. But it can be put to tremendous use and tremendous good and this would be an example of that.”
Trump’s speech wasn’t without its lighter moments—or technical hiccups. According to The Express, as he entered the U.N. headquarters with First Lady Melania Trump, the escalator suddenly stopped, forcing Melania to grab the side rail to keep her balance. The couple and their entourage simply climbed the stairs as if nothing had happened. Later, as Trump approached the podium, he discovered his teleprompter wasn’t working. “I don’t mind making this speech without a teleprompter,” he quipped to the assembled leaders. “Because the teleprompter is not working.”
Despite these minor blunders, Trump pressed on, using the opportunity to highlight his achievements since returning to the White House in January. He claimed to have ended seven wars and expressed frustration that the U.N. had never offered help to finalize those deals. “All I got from the United Nations was an escalator that on the way stopped right in the middle... and then a teleprompter that didn’t work,” he remarked, drawing a few chuckles from the crowd.
But the heart of Trump’s message was deadly serious. He warned that, despite the lessons of COVID-19, many countries were still engaging in “extremely risky research into bioweapons and man-made pathogens.” The president’s words echoed concerns raised in recent years about the adequacy of current verification mechanisms under the Biological Weapons Convention. The treaty, which has been in force since 1975, has long struggled with enforcement, as it lacks robust inspection and verification procedures. Trump’s proposal to use AI aims to fill that gap, offering a technological solution to a persistent diplomatic problem.
International reaction to Trump’s announcement was mixed. Some leaders welcomed the prospect of enhanced verification and greater transparency, especially given the rapid advances in biotechnology and the growing accessibility of gene-editing tools. Others, however, expressed skepticism about the feasibility and impartiality of an AI-driven system—especially one led by the United States. There were questions about data privacy, the risk of algorithmic bias, and whether all nations would trust the results.
Experts in arms control and artificial intelligence have weighed in as well. While some see promise in leveraging AI to detect suspicious research or production activities, others caution that technology alone cannot solve what is fundamentally a political and trust-based challenge. “A lot of people think it could be one of the greatest things ever,” Trump himself acknowledged. “But it could also be dangerous. But it could be, but to tremendous use and good, and this is an example of that.”
The president’s call for U.N. involvement was a nod to the need for international legitimacy. “Hopefully, the U.N. can play a constructive role, and it will also be one of the early projects under AI ... let’s see how good it is,” he said, as reported by The Express. Trump’s administration plans to meet with top world leaders to discuss the details of the initiative, though specifics on implementation remain scarce.
Trump’s speech comes at a time when the world is grappling with the dual-edged sword of artificial intelligence. On one hand, AI offers unprecedented capabilities for monitoring, analysis, and prediction. On the other, it raises thorny questions about control, misuse, and unintended consequences. The president’s willingness to embrace both the potential and the risks of AI was evident throughout his remarks. “Let’s see how good it is,” he repeated, signaling both optimism and caution.
As the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly drew to a close, Trump’s proposal left world leaders with much to ponder. Can artificial intelligence truly provide the trust and transparency needed to prevent the next global biological catastrophe? Or will the very technology meant to safeguard humanity introduce new vulnerabilities and fears? Only time—and the collective will of the international community—will tell. For now, Trump’s announcement has set in motion a conversation that is sure to reverberate far beyond the halls of the United Nations.