5 things to know about Trump’s speech to the United Nations

President Trump used the United Nations podium to issue an ultimatum to Iran on Tuesday: Pursue a deal to settle the war, or risk annihilation .

The president used a large portion of his 40-minute speech to defend the war, which is deeply unpopular at home and abroad, contributing to economic chaos globally by disrupting major energy exports.

Trump portrayed his administration as one that takes action to resolve global conflicts that others have neglected, as he has overseen military intervention across the world.

Here are five takeaways from Trump’s speech:

Trump defends Iran war, asks nations to isolate Tehran

Addressing the global body established to avoid world conflict by promoting diplomacy, Trump defended his aggression against Iran. The nearly seven-month war has cost the U.S. tens of billions of dollars and sent energy prices soaring globally , halting key exports through the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea, which have become the front line of fighting.

“I have a big decision to make. Will a deal be made with Iran that lets them rebuild and create a far greater country than it ever was before, maybe one of the greatest in the Middle East or even the world,” the president said.

“Or do I annihilate the Islamic Republic and do it quickly, never giving them a chance to kill and destroy people and countries again.”

The president’s threats came after the White House raised the possibility that Trump could meet with the Iranian delegation on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, although nothing is scheduled.

Trump defended America’s ability to continue waging the war, even as reports indicate the U.S. is facing severe munitions shortages that have impacted war planning.

“The cowards and traitors would love to say the United States is low on munitions, but that’s not true. We have more munitions than we could ever possibly even think of using, and we’re building them at levels that we have never done before,” Trump said.

The president issued a call to nations to join “the complete economic isolation of Iran,” a sanctions pressure campaign the administration launched in August as the military operation stalled.

“They were the bully of the Middle East, but they are the bully no more. From the first day I entered the political arena, I’ve been unwavering,” Trump said. “I will never allow Iran to have a nuclear weapon.”

Trump rejects guardrails for artificial intelligence, despite warnings

Trump solidified his stance on AI at the U.N., telling world leaders that Washington would not go the way of regulation in the AI race.

“I’m not going to stifle growth of something that will be bigger than the Industrial Revolution,” the president said.

The president announced during his remarks that artificial intelligence would be renamed to “ super intelligence ” — or “SI” — in all U.S. documents.

“Whoever wins SI, whoever wins super intelligence, wins. That’s the group that wins,” Trump said.

“From this point forward, all of United States documents and hopefully the world’s will be changed to use the much more accurate term super, as opposed to artificial,” he said.

“Let’s see if that goes. It sounds much better. It is much better, and it’s much more accurate.”

Superintelligence is already defined as a form of artificial intelligence that exceeds human intelligence.

Trump’s comments come as concerns over AI have grown following warnings from a former Anthropic researcher earlier this month that the technology could destroy humanity.

While Trump has pushed for a hands-off approach to the technology in an effort to defeat China in AI, Democrats and even some Republicans have warned regulation is necessary.

Trump issues warning on drug cartels in Western Hemisphere

Trump warned of the threat posed by the cartels, which he referred to as the “ISIS of the Western Hemisphere,” defending a year-plus military operation striking alleged drug boats in the Caribbean. Those strikes could constitute war crimes, a U.N. report warned earlier this week.

“They’re enemies at war with civilization using murder, rape, torture and extortion as instruments of terror,” Trump said. “Like ISIS, they should be killed, exiled or detained as enemy combatants without the possibility of release, which is what we’re doing.”

The president also criticized Mexico’s handling of the cartels, calling it “unacceptable” for the U.S. to share a border with territory controlled by enemy cartels.

“Mexico is the epicenter of the cartel violence, unfortunately,” he said. “Mexico must reclaim control of its soil from the enemies of humanity.”

One of the more noteworthy moments of the speech took place when Trump called for freedom in Cuba, prompting the country’s delegation to walk out of the chamber.

“My administration is also seeking a fundamental change in the situation in Cuba, where the communist regime is under great pressure — the biggest pressure they’ve ever been under. It’s an absolutely failed state,” Trump said. “It’s falling like never before, and it will fall.”

Trump touts tariff authorities in Russia sanctions bill

Trump touted new tariff authorities he gained by signing a bill championed by former Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.).

Trump highlighted the law as part of his administration’s renewed push to end Russia’s war against Ukraine. The law allows Trump to levy up to 100 percent tariffs against the top five purchasers of Russian energy and the top five countries helping evade sanctions on Russia. The tariffs largely target China and India as the main purchasers of Russian energy.

“We continue to seek an to end the disastrous war between Russia and Ukraine, which is killing, as I said, thousands and thousands of people every month,” Trump said.

“Last week, in honor of Sen. Lindsey Graham, I signed a powerful new law passed by Congress, providing me with enormous new tariff authorities, and if necessary, I will have to use them.”

Trump is scheduled to meet Tuesday with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on the sidelines of the summit.

“We’re working very closely with the leaders of Russia and Ukraine, and we will get that one done,” Trump said.

Trump’s remarks to the global body came as the president finds himself in a weakened position, both at home and abroad. His speech also came just weeks before the U.S. midterm elections, where Republicans face increasing odds they could lose their majorities in the House and Senate, setting up Trump for two frustrating final years in office.

His approval rating in the U.S. has hit an all-time low of 32 percent, with increasing Republican discontent over his handling of the war with Iran and high cost of living, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll released Monday. Almost two-thirds of Americans said the U.S. is not winning the conflict with Iran, according to a CNN poll released Tuesday .

Globally, Trump’s favorability has fallen behind Chinese President Xi Jinping, an authoritarian leader who the U.S. determined committed genocide against China’s minority Uyghur population. A Pew survey published in July found China viewed more positively than the U.S. in a majority of 36 countries surveyed.

The address also came as Trump is facing backlash over his decision to ban CNN, MS NOW and Politico from the White House. Following the move, the three major broadcast networks and Fox News announced they would not be covering Trump in the pool, meaning no TV crew traveled with the president during his trip to the international gathering.

Trump lashed out at CNN’s Kaitlan Collins on his way into the U.N. on Tuesday, telling the network, “You should not be here covering me.”