President Trump’s Statements at the UN Raise Legal Concerns

Despite significant challenges, foreign governments and U.S. lawmakers have avenues to start holding President Trump accountable for recent actions.

On September 22, during the United Nations General Assembly, President Donald Trump issued two explicit threats. The first was the potential use of military force in Latin America to serve U.S. interests. The second was the threat of annihilation against both the Iranian government and its people.

These threats contravene international laws that prohibit acts of war and protect civilians during conflicts. The U.N. Charter explicitly bans threats of aggression, and the laws of war, enshrined in U.S. law, forbid indiscriminate threats against civilians.

President Trump’s statements, made publicly before thousands of diplomats and world leaders, may be considered violations of international law. These actions emphasize the need for international and domestic measures to address such breaches.