from Khrushchev‘s Shoe-Banging to Trump‘s “Totally Destroy” Threat: A History of Controversy at the UN
NEW YORK – The United Nations General Assembly has long served as a global stage for diplomacy, but its also witnessed moments of outright provocation and startling rhetoric.Recent pronouncements have echoed through the halls of the UN, prompting reflection on a history punctuated by controversial speeches – declarations that challenged international norms and, at times, threatened global stability. From Nikita Khrushchev’s explosive outburst in 1960 to Donald Trump’s unprecedented threats in 2017, the UN podium has hosted a spectrum of inflammatory addresses.
For eight decades,world leaders have utilized the UN General Assembly to address pressing global issues. However, some speeches have transcended typical diplomatic discourse, becoming infamous for their aggressive tone, unconventional tactics, or outright hostility. These moments not only reflect the geopolitical tensions of their time but also raise enduring questions about the role of rhetoric in international relations and the limits of acceptable speech within a forum designed for peaceful dialog.As the UN continues to navigate an increasingly complex world, understanding this history of contentious addresses is crucial for contextualizing current events and anticipating future challenges.
Here are eight of the most controversial speeches in the 80-year history of the UN, demonstrating the power – and peril – of words on the world stage:
1. Nikita Khrushchev (1960): during a heated debate over Soviet policy in the Congo, the Soviet premier famously removed his shoe and banged it on the desk, accusing Western powers of colonialism. While the exact details of the incident remain debated – some accounts suggest he banged his fist rather than his shoe – the act became a symbol of Cold War antagonism and a breach of UN decorum.
2. Fidel Castro (1960): Castro’s four-hour, 26-minute address, delivered just months after the Cuban Revolution, was a blistering critique of American imperialism and a defence of his government’s policies. He famously declared, “Patria o Muerte!” (“Homeland or Death!”), setting a defiant tone that would characterize his decades-long rule.
3. Gamal Abdel Nasser (1967): In the lead-up to the Six-Day War,the Egyptian President delivered a fiery speech accusing Israel of aggression and mobilizing Arab forces. He announced the closure of the Straits of Tiran to Israeli shipping, a move widely considered an act of war.
4. yasser Arafat (1974): Arafat, then leader of the Palestine Liberation Organization, addressed the UN General Assembly carrying a pistol, a clear violation of UN security protocols. He used the chance to advocate for Palestinian self-determination, but the gesture sparked outrage and condemnation from many member states.
5. Muammar Gaddafi (2009): The Libyan leader’s lengthy, rambling speech – exceeding the allotted time by over an hour – was a tirade against the UN Security Council, which he accused of being a tool of Western powers. He called for the dismantling of the Security Council and the establishment of a more democratic world order.
6. Hugo Chávez (2006): The Venezuelan President, a frequent critic of the United States, delivered a speech in which he famously described then-President George W. Bush as “the devil.” He also claimed to smell sulfur in the room, associating it with the presence of the American delegation.
7. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (2007): The Iranian President’s address was widely condemned for its anti-Semitic rhetoric and denial of the Holocaust. He questioned the past accuracy of the Holocaust and called for Israel to be “wiped off the map.”
8. Donald trump (2017): Trump’s speech was markedly different from those delivered by previous US leaders. He threatened “totally destroying” North Korea if provoked, a statement journalist Julian Borger of The Guardian noted was exceptionally aggressive, even compared to leaders of regimes considered radical or extremist.
