The 2025 United Nations General Assembly has been marred by disarray. Radical facets of the organization continue to aggressively advocate for the recognition of a Palestinian state despite Gaza’s ties to terror. Meanwhile, Western leaders are still engaging in high-profile meetings with Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa, a figure with documented ties to Al-Qaeda. Lastly, President Donald Trump’s appearance was viral for the wrong reasons as his monumental speech was disrupted by mechanical failures, including a malfunctioning escalator and teleprompter. These mishaps are hardly surprising if you know the history of Dorothy C. Shea, a Biden administration holdover serving as Acting U.S. Representative to the United Nations since Mike Waltz, Trump’s nominee for U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, was only confirmed last week. As the Senate returns from recess, Republicans must prioritize rapid confirmations of remaining Trump appointees to allow America First loyalists control of events to prevent future debacles like those witnessed at UNGA.
Upon arriving at the UN headquarters in New York, President Trump encountered immediate setbacks when the escalator halted during his ascent. That moment was followed by a teleprompter failure that forced him to deliver his address from prepared notes. Undeterred, Trump delivered a memorable speech emphasizing America’s foreign policy priorities while firmly rejecting the notion of Palestinian statehood. “Recognizing a Palestinian state right now would be a gift to Hamas terrorists,” Trump declared. Seated alongside Secretary of State Marco Rubio during Trump’s address was newly confirmed U.S. Ambassador Mike Waltz, whose role could have mitigated some of the event’s questionable moments had he been in his position earlier. Waltz’s confirmation came late, on September 19, 2025, in a narrow 47-43 Senate vote. The vote itself was of course delayed for months by the unprecedented blockade orchestrated by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer.
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The months-long delay in the Senate’s confirmation of Mike Waltz as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations allowed figures like Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa to take center stage at the 2025 UN General Assembly (UNGA) without robust U.S. oversight. If Waltz hadn’t faced the procedural hurdles and opposition that he did, there’s no way al-Sharaa would have been given the long leash he was by Biden’s appointee. Schumer’s blockade limited the Trump Administration’s ability to influence all aspects of the event, where al-Sharaa was able to showcase credibility by meeting with Western leaders and even delivering his first address to the assembly.
Ahmad al-Sharaa, formerly known as Abu Mohammad al-Jolani, is a former Al-Qaeda affiliate who previously had a $10 million U.S. bounty on his head. In past interviews, al-Sharaa has made anti-Christian remarks, stating that minorities such as Christians and Alawites would not be accommodated in an Islamic state under his group’s rule. He also said Christians living under Islamic sovereignty must pay the jizya per capita tax. He has also made anti-Jewish remarks, supporting violence against Israel. Does this sound like someone that should be welcomed by western leaders? He led rebel forces, including Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), that overthrew the Assad regime on December 8, 2024. Al-Sharaa served as Syria’s de facto leader in the immediate post-revolutionary period before being appointed president in January 2025. His appearance at the 2025 UNGA marked the first time a Syrian leader had attended in nearly six decades, highlighting his rapid elevation on the international stage.
Dorothy C. Shea, an Obama donor and Biden-era appointee, served as Acting U.S. Representative to the United Nations from January 20, 2025, until Waltz’s confirmation. Nominated by President Biden in 2023 and confirmed by the Democratic-controlled Senate in August 2024, she handled much of the planning for the conference, which she described as the “pinnacle of foreign policy.” She added that “bringing our most effective diplomats to New York for the occasion” is “a unique opportunity to showcase American excellence and to pursue our policy priorities” in a previous statement on UNGA events.
Given that Former President Joe Biden called the fall of the Assad regime a “fundamental act of justice,” and Shea’s role in planning the conference, it should be no surprise that al-Sharaa was given a seat at the table at a conference primarily organized by Shea.
Looking beyond the UN, Senate delays have left key U.S. agencies under the sway of officials pushing agendas contrary to Trump’s America First vision, as detailed in other reports by investigative journalist Laura Loomer. There are other significant confirmations still pending, Ben Black was nominated for CEO of the International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) and still awaits full confirmation. Meanwhile, the DFC approved a $100 million loan in 2025 to the Bank of Palestine. Chaos is being sewn by Biden appointees, this must be rectified immediately.
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The disorganization at UNGA 2025 serves as a warning: Senate Republicans must accelerate the confirmation of Trump’s nominees to dismantle deep-state resistance and restore American leadership internationally. Failure to act swiftly risks further sabotage by entrenching America deeper into ruin at the hands of bureaucrats. We cannot squander nation’s interests when we have so much going in our favor.
