Trump’s address kicks off jam-packed day at UNGA

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The Hill's Headlines - September 21, 2026

The Hill's Headlines - September 21, 2026

▪ Trump at UN General Assembly

▪ White House press ban rages on

▪ Hung Cao’s bid for Navy Secretary

▪ Trump’s deal with Greenland and Denmark

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President Trump’s address to the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on Tuesday marks the beginning of a high-intensity day of meetings touching on major conflicts around the globe, including the war with Iran, U.S. control over Venezuela and a deal to end the intra-NATO fight over Greenland.

Trump will address the General Assembly around 9:55 a.m. EDT, and he is expected to berate past administrations for neglecting problems that he’s taken on in his second administration.

“He’ll include many of the issues, frankly neglected by past administrations, that he’s not going to kick the can on,” a senior administration official previewed last week in a call to reporters.

Trump will address the more than six-month war against Iran by touching “on the importance of ensuring that Iran never has a nuclear weapon,” discuss the president’s 20-point peace plan for Gaza — which has stalled for nearly a year — and the U.S. focus on the Western Hemisphere, the official previewed.

The president will almost surely mention some of the logistical issues during his UNGA appearance last year, when an escalator stopped on his way to the assembly and the teleprompter glitched during his speech — issues he’s framed in a somewhat conspiratorial light.

Following his speech, Trump will join a signing ceremony with the leaders of Greenland and Denmark on an agreement that the president touted as giving the U.S. “total control” over the Arctic island’s security. Greenland and Denmark, which owns the self-governed island, framed the agreement as strengthening security and said they will need to have their parliaments ratify the terms before it goes into effect.

The deal gives the U.S. permanent basing rights on the island, a provision already guaranteed by a 1951 treaty but that may have been in question if Greenland achieved independence. The agreement also bans sensitive investment on the island from countries outside of NATO.

After the signing, Trump will participate in three bilateral meetings. He’ll hold his first face-to-face with the recently appointed U.K. Prime Minister Andy Burnham and a “fulsome” bilateral with Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. He’ll then meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky before taking part in a “Shield of the Americas” event with Latin American leaders.

A senior administration official described the Takaichi bilat as an important meeting coming the day before Trump welcomes Chinese President Xi Jinping for a state visit in Washington D.C. Top of Takaichi’s agenda is lobbying Trump not to trade economic deals with Beijing for Taiwan’s security.

Another high-stakes gathering is Trump’s meeting with Gulf countries to strategize on ending the war with Iran. Not expected to be part of that meeting is Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who launched the war with the U.S. on Feb. 28. A senior administration official suggested scheduling issues prevent a meeting between Trump and Netanyahu. The two leaders last met on July 29.

Trump will host a “Leaders reception” on Tuesday evening, where he will meet for the first time face-to-face Venezuela’s interim President Delcy Rodríguez. Trump granted Rodríguezpower to govern the country after launching an audacious operation to capture the country’s authoritarian leader Nicolás Maduro.

A senior administration official described their scheduled meeting as a “pull aside.” Despite treating the meeting informally, it carries huge weight. Trump’s praise for Rodríguez comes at the expense of alienating the political opposition and the administration’s promise of a transition to democracy.

Trump is expected to depart New York on Tuesday evening, and it’s not clear if his schedule will cross over with a small Iranian delegation that the State Department approved to come to the General Assembly.

“I won’t get ahead of the president or secretary’s final schedule,” a senior administration official responded when asked if Secretary of State Marco Rubio might also have a chance to meet with the Iranians.

Here’s the latest schedule from the White House.

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