From New York to Beijing: Translating President Trump’s Words into Chinese

From New York to Beijing: Translating President Trump’s Words into Chinese
On September 23rd, 2025, United States President Donald Trump took the podium at the United Nations General Assembly. His speech echoed familiar themes: sovereignty, strength, defiance of elites, but with new urgency.

Today, we’ll not only explore what Trump said, but also hear his words in Chinese translation, complete with pinyin, to understand how his rhetoric travels across languages and cultures. Authenticity Trump began by highlighting a small technical failure. The teleprompter had stopped working. He turned it into a rhetorical weapon.
Quote:
“Thank you very much. And I don’t mind making this speech without a teleprompter… that way, you speak more from the heart.”

Chinese:
“非常感谢。我不介意没有提词器来发表这次演讲……这样一来，你就能更发自内心地讲话。”
“Fēicháng gǎnxiè. Wǒ bù jièyì méiyǒu tícíqì lái fābiǎo zhè cì yǎnjiǎng… zhèyàng yīlái, nǐ jiù néng gèng fāzì nèixīn de jiǎnghuà.”

The message? Trump is unscripted, authentic, the “real deal.” In translation, 发自内心 (fāzì nèixīn), “from the heart”, carries deep resonance in Chinese too.

Ending Wars
Next, Trump made a sweeping claim about foreign policy achievements.
Quote:
“In the period of seven months, I ended seven un-endable — they said they were un-endable — wars.”

Chinese:
“在七个月的时间里，我结束了七场‘无法结束’的战争——他们说那些战争是没有尽头的。”
“Zài qī gè yuè de shíjiān lǐ, wǒ jiéshù le qī chǎng ‘wúfǎ jiéshù’ de zhànzhēng — tāmen shuō nàxiē zhànzhēng shì méiyǒu jìntóu de.”

Whether factual or not, the phrasing works. “Seven un-endable wars” is a powerful soundbite. In Chinese, 无法结束的战争 (Wúfǎ jiéshù de zhànzhēng), “A war that can never end”, captures the same sense of endlessness.
Sovereignty and America First
The heart of Trump’s speech returns to his signature themes: sovereignty and nationalism.
Quote:
“America will always stand for strength, sovereignty, and prosperity. We will never bow to globalist bureaucrats. Every country should put its own citizens first.”

Chinese:
“美国将永远捍卫力量、主权和繁荣。我们绝不会向全球主义官僚低头。每一个国家都应该把自己的公民放在首位。”
“Měiguó jiāng yǒngyuǎn hànwèi lìliàng, zhǔquán hé fánróng. Wǒmen juébù huì xiàng quánqiú zhǔyì guānliáo dītóu. Měi yī gè guójiā dōu yīnggāi bǎ zìjǐ de gōngmín fàng zài shǒuwèi.”

The Chinese word 主权 (zhǔquán) is exactly “sovereignty.” But “globalist bureaucrats” becomes 全球主义官僚 (Quánqiú zhǔyì guānliáo) .Still critical, but slightly more abstract in Chinese, sounding closer to “internationalist officials.”

Critique of Globalism and the United Nations

Trump then turned his fire on the United Nations itself.

Quote:
“The United Nations must choose: will it serve the interests of ordinary people, or will it remain a club for the elites and the powerful? The UN cannot be just empty words, it must deliver results.”

Chinese:
“联合国必须作出选择：它是要服务于普通人民的利益，还是继续作为精英和强权的俱乐部？联合国不能只是空洞的言辞——它必须带来成果。”
“Liánhéguó bìxū zuòchū xuǎnzé: tā shì yào fúwù yú pǔtōng rénmín de lìyì, háishì jìxù zuòwéi jīngyīng hé qiángquán de jùlèbù? Liánhéguó bùnéng zhǐshì kōngdòng de yáncí — tā bìxū dàilái chéngguǒ.”

Here, Trump sets up a stark binary: people versus elites. The metaphor 俱乐部 (Jùlèbù) “club”, works in Chinese, conjuring the image of exclusion.
Closing Cadence
Trump ended on a familiar triad, a patriotic cadence designed to echo in headlines.
Quote:
“That is how we build true peace. Through strong nations, proud nations, free nations.”
Chinese:
“这就是我们建设真正和平的方式——通过强大的国家、自豪的国家和自由的国家。”
“Zhè jiù shì wǒmen jiànshè zhēnzhèng hépíng de fāngshì — tōngguò qiángdà de guójiā, zìháo de guójiā hé zìyóu de guójiā.”.......

Let’s work through some of the expressions used by President Trump and add a brief comment:

Without a teleprompter (没有提词器 méiyǒu tícíqì). Signals authenticity / spontaneity.

Speak from the heart (发自内心地讲话 fāzì nèixīn de jiǎnghuà). Appeals to sincerity over polish.

Seven un-endable wars (七场无法结束的战争 qī chǎng wúfǎ jiéshù de zhànzhēng). Hyperbolic claim of foreign policy success.

Strength, sovereignty, prosperity (力量、主权和繁荣 lìliàng, zhǔquán hé fánróng). Nationalist triad, rhythmic rhetoric.

Globalist bureaucrats (全球主义官僚) quánqiú zhǔyì guānliáo. Villainizing elites / institutions.

Put citizens first (把公民放在首位 bǎ gōngmín fàng zài shǒuwèi). Populist slogan stressing domestic priority....

Sovereignty 主权 (zhǔquán)
Prosperity 繁荣 (fánróng)
Globalism 全球主义 (quánqiú zhǔyì)
Populism 民粹主义 (míncuì zhǔyì)
Peace 和平 (hépíng)
Patriotism 爱国主义 (àiguó zhǔyì)