EIGHT MONTHS INTO HIS SECOND TERM, PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP HAS TAKEN AN AGGRESIVE APPROACH TO THE UNITED NATIONS AS HE PURSUES HIS 'AMERICA FIRST' AGENDA.

TRUMP DRASTICALLY CUT FUNDING TO AID GROUPS AND THE U.N. AFTER ANNOUNCING THE UNITED STATES WITHDRAWAL FROM THE HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL AND OTHER AGENCIES AND ORDERED A SWEEPING REVIEW OF AMERICA'S INVOLVEMENT IN THE WORLD BODY.

BUT EVEN AS HE UNDERMINES IT - TRUMP STILL BELIEVES THE U.N. HAS POTENTIAL.

SOUNDBITE (English) Donald Trump, U.S. President:

"There are great hopes for it, but it's not being well run, to be honest."

THE MOOD IN THE HALLS OF THE U.N. HEADQUARTERS IS GRIM AS TRUMP PREPARES TO DELIVER HIS FIFTH ADDRESS TO THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

SOUNDBITE (English) Dr Anjali K. Dayal, Associate Professor of International Politics, Fordham University:

"This is by far the most stressed the UN system has ever been in its 80 years. "

IN HIS FIRST TERM, TRUMP ADDRESSED THE ANNUAL GATHERING OF WORLD LEADERS FOUR TIMES, USING THIS INTERNATIONAL STAGE TO PURSUE HIS NATIONALIST FOREIGN POLICY.

SOUNDBITE (English) Donald Trump, US President:

"The future does not belong to globalists. The future belongs to patriots."

TRUMP'S HEADLINE SPEECH ON TUESDAY WILL BE CLOSELY WATCHED.

SOUNDBITE (English) Richard Gowan, UN Director, International Crisis Group:

"If he gives a relatively friendly speech, concentrating on his own successes, I think everyone will be relieved. If he gives very tough speech, especially challenging other countries over their criticism of Israel, then I think, everyone will very nervous."

RICHARD GOWAN, U.N. DIRECTOR OF THE INTERNATIONAL CRISIS GROUP THINK TANK, SAYS DESPITE THE TENSIONS TRUMP ACTUALLY ENJOYS HIS APPEARANCES AT THE U.N..

SOUNDBITE (English) Richard Gowan, UN Director, International Crisis Group:

"He always likes to get the attention and get the applause from other leaders. And I actually think that Trump will be coming to New York not to berate the UN, but instead to talk about his own domestic policy successes and foreign policy successes. "

SOUNDBITE (English) Dr Anjali K. Dayal, Associate Professor of International Politics, Fordham University:

"The U.S. President is always a big deal at the United Nations. And he likes being feted and showing up and getting the ceremonial sash and having people, you know, do a little bit of ceremonial obedience to him. "

TRUMP'S SPEECH MAY SHED LIGHT ON THE AS-YET-UNANNOUNCED RESULTS OF THE WHITE HOUSE REVIEW OF THE U.N. AND FUTURE FUNDING CUTS.

AP Production Tracy Brown

AP Video: Dan Huff, Ted Shaffrey