When President Donald Trump took the stage at the United Nations General Assembly on September 23, 2025, the world braced for a spectacle—and, by all accounts, he delivered. Over the course of a 55-minute address, Trump veered from self-congratulation to open rebukes of America’s traditional allies, unleashing a torrent of claims that ranged from the dubious to the outright false. According to LGBTQ Nation, he characterized climate change as “the greatest con job ever perpetrated on the world,” and dismissed investments in renewable energy while lauding coal as “beautiful clean coal.”
Trump’s speech was more than just a display of bravado. It marked a turning point in U.S. foreign policy, signaling a retreat from global leadership and a growing skepticism toward multilateralism. As Asia Sentinel reported, the address was not just a personal performance; it was a warning to Asia and the world that “America has left and gone for good.”
Observers noted that Trump’s rhetoric was laced with disdain for immigrants from non-Western or non-Christian countries—a sentiment he made little effort to hide. He lambasted other nations’ immigration policies, declaring, “You’re destroying your countries,” and insisting that his own hardline approach was the only path forward. “I can tell you I’m really good at this stuff. Your countries are going to hell,” he boasted, according to LGBTQ Nation.
Beyond the bluster, Trump justified a series of controversial actions on the world stage. He claimed credit for ending multiple wars, boasted about strikes on Venezuelan vessels allegedly smuggling drugs, and even referenced dropping massive bombs on Iran’s nuclear program—though, as LGBTQ Nation pointed out, Pentagon assessments did not support his claims of total success. He continued to support Israeli President Binyamin Netanyahu’s devastating campaign in Gaza, and even floated the idea of U.S. claims on Greenland.
These actions, while sometimes dismissed as the eccentricities of one man, have enjoyed the backing of the Republican majority in Congress and a conservative Supreme Court shaped by the Federalist Society, as Asia Sentinel detailed. Critics of Trump’s policies have found themselves targeted, with academic freedoms curtailed and threats of imprisonment for dissent. The vitriol from Trump’s followers against those who do not fit their vision of a white, Christian America has only intensified.
Trump’s economic policies—most notably his tariffs on China—have also had far-reaching consequences. According to CounterPunch, his trade war has battered American farmers, prompting Republican stalwarts like Senator Chuck Grassley to demand a reversal of the tariffs. The Des Moines Register reported that China’s refusal to buy U.S. soybeans has left Iowa farmers in dire straits. Yet, despite the economic pain, Trump’s “America First” agenda remains popular among his base, buoyed by a stock market that, as Asia Sentinel described, has reached “delusional valuations,” particularly in the tech sector.
But the damage, analysts warn, may be irreversible. Even if Democrats were to stage a comeback in the 2026 midterm elections, the erosion of America’s credibility as a reliable trade partner and the undermining of the U.S. dollar’s dominance in international finance would be difficult to undo. Trump’s weaponization of the dollar against Russia, his abrogation of trade deals, and his penchant for transactional, bilateral agreements have shaken global confidence in the U.S. system. As Asia Sentinel noted, “Some ground lost can never be regained.”
The latest draft of the National Defense Strategy, leaked to Politico and reviewed by CounterPunch, suggests an even more dramatic shift. Authored by Deputy Secretary of War Elbridge Colby—once a leading China hawk—the plan proposes pivoting away from China and focusing on defending the homeland and the Western Hemisphere. This about-face, some speculate, is an attempt to align with Trump and Senator JD Vance’s “America First” platform, or perhaps an acknowledgment that America’s global empire is overextended and financially unsustainable.
China, now recognized as a peer power, is expected to see a resumption of robust trade with the U.S. Trump’s recent two-hour phone call with Chinese President Xi Jinping was described as “productive,” with plans for further meetings in South Korea and reciprocal visits in the coming year. In a significant gesture, Trump has paused $400 million in weapons sales to Taiwan, signaling a more cautious approach to the region.
Meanwhile, the new U.S. doctrine de-emphasizes Europe. The expectation is that approximately 80,000 troops will be withdrawn from the continent, and many of the over 750 American military bases worldwide will be shuttered. The proxy war in Ukraine, once seen as a bulwark against Russian aggression, is now widely regarded as a failure, with Russia having “won in essentials,” according to CounterPunch.
As the world transitions to a multipolar order, the influence of the BRICS nations—Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates—has grown. This bloc now stands as a competitor to the G7 alliance, challenging America’s ability to dictate terms on the global stage. “America is now operating in a multipolar world and can no longer dictate its will on sovereign nations,” CounterPunch observed.
Closer to home, the National Defense Strategy implies a renewed focus on the Western Hemisphere. Under the pretense of democracy promotion and fighting “narco-terrorism,” the U.S. is accelerating efforts at regime change in Latin America to secure favorable conditions for American corporations. The New York Times reported a military buildup in the Caribbean, including the deployment of 10 F-35 stealth fighters to Puerto Rico and eight warships to the region. The specter of the Monroe Doctrine looms large, with Venezuela likely to be the first target of this renewed “Big Stick” approach.
Yet, even as America flexes its muscle in its own backyard, the rest of the world is less inclined to acquiesce. The rise of alternative currencies, such as the Chinese yuan and various cryptocurrencies, threatens the U.S. dollar’s privileged position. Trump’s push for tax cuts is expected to balloon government debt, keeping long-term interest rates high or risking a sharp devaluation of the dollar, as Asia Sentinel warned.
Perhaps most consequential is the loss of trust in U.S. military alliances. Trump’s ambiguous stance on NATO and his accommodation of Russian President Vladimir Putin have left European and Asian allies questioning the reliability of American security guarantees. His wavering commitment to Taiwan has alarmed partners in Japan, Korea, Australia, and the Philippines, while his unpredictable approach to India has left many puzzled.
In sum, America’s retreat from its global commitments—likened by some to “Brexit times 10”—has left allies and adversaries alike recalibrating their expectations. As Asia Sentinel concluded, “Returning to the previous status quo is not possible.” The world has changed, and America’s place within it is more uncertain than ever.
For many, Trump’s performance at the United Nations was less a momentary aberration than a harbinger of a new era—one in which America’s unipolar moment has truly ended. The consequences of this shift, both at home and abroad, will be felt for years to come.