Donald Trump told the United Nations General Assembly that whoever comes out on top in the artificial intelligence race will come out on top overall, according to BFM. The remark came during his address to the assembly on Tuesday, September 22, 2026.
BFM reported the US president's line that the winner of the AI competition "wins everything." The speech was wide-ranging, touching on subjects well beyond technology.
According to RTL, Trump's remarks also covered Iran, Ukraine, the International Criminal Court, military bases in Greenland and what was described as "super intelligence." Franceinfo reported that he used the appearance to declare that "America is back."
Coverage from Le Figaro and Ouest-France framed the address around the Ukraine war and the conflict in the Middle East, alongside the other topics he raised. The eclectic mix of themes drew attention from several French outlets, which compiled roundups of the key points from his time at the podium.
The AI comments stood out because they placed the technology contest alongside traditional security and foreign policy issues in a single speech to world leaders. Trump did not offer further detail in the reported remarks on how he measures progress in that race or what winning would require.
Watch for follow-up statements from the White House or US officials on what the administration's AI position means in practice, and for reactions from other governments at the assembly.
