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Trump Addresses U.N. General Assembly: Live Updates Trump Addresses U.N. General Assembly: Live Updates
(35 minutes later)
President Trump, whose apocalyptic speech in his United Nations debut last year riveted much of the world’s attention, spoke again on the world’s most important diplomatic stage Tuesday, at the organization’s New York headquarters. Mr. Trump has alienated allies and sidled up to adversaries, all while he pursues an America First agenda. President Trump, whose apocalyptic speech in his United Nations debut last year riveted much of the world’s attention, spoke again on the world’s most important diplomatic stage on Tuesday, at the organization’s New York headquarters.
Unlike 2017, however, when Mr. Trump threatened to annihilate North Korea and its leader, Kim Jong-un, he touted his budding friendship with Mr. Kim — even though there has been no progress in their underlying dispute over North Korea’s nuclear weapons and missiles. Mr. Trump has alienated allies and sidled up to adversaries, all while he pursues an America First agenda. Unlike in 2017, however, when Mr. Trump threatened to annihilate North Korea and its leader, Kim Jong-un, he touted his budding friendship with Mr. Kim — even though there has been little progress in their underlying dispute over North Korea’s nuclear weapons and missiles.
Mr. Trump will almost certainly not, however, be meeting with President Hassan Rouhani of Iran, who has said he will not be meeting with the Americans. Mr. Trump has said that he would “always be available” for such an encounter. On Tuesday, Mr. Trump said on Twitter that he had “no plans” to meet with the Iranian leader. [Read our article on why Mr. Trump’s aides fear he may be too nice at this year’s General Assembly.]
[Read our article on why Mr. Trump’s aides fear he may be too nice at this year’s General Assembly, vulnerable to exploitation by wily adversaries.] President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey, President Emmanuel Macron of France, Prime Minister Theresa May of Britain and President Hassan Rouhani of Iran are all scheduled to speak later in the day.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey, President Emmanuel Macron of France, Prime Minister Theresa May of Britain and Mr. Rouhani are all scheduled to speak later in the day. Mr. Trump boasted of what he called impressive accomplishments in the United States and around the world.
President Trump boasted of what he called unprecedented accomplishments in the United States and around the world on Tuesday at his speech at the annual United Nations General Assembly. “In less than two years, my administration has accomplished more than almost any administration in the history of our country,” he said, setting off murmurs of laughter by world leaders in the cavernous hall.
“In less than two years my administration has accomplished more than almost any administration in the history of our country,” he said, setting off a round of murmurs of laughter by world leaders in the cavernous hall.
“I didn’t expect that reaction,” he said.“I didn’t expect that reaction,” he said.
“The United States is stronger, safer and a richer country than it was when I assumed office less than two years ago,” Mr. Trump told the General Assembly, in his second address as president. “We are standing up for America and the American people. We are also standing up for the world.”“The United States is stronger, safer and a richer country than it was when I assumed office less than two years ago,” Mr. Trump told the General Assembly, in his second address as president. “We are standing up for America and the American people. We are also standing up for the world.”
He said that under his administration, the United States had started building a border wall with Mexico, defeated the Islamic State and eased the crisis with North Korea through his dialogue with the leader of the nuclear-armed state. He said that under his administration the United States had started building a border wall with Mexico, defeated the Islamic State and eased the crisis with North Korea through his dialogue with the leader of the nuclear-armed state.
“We have engaged with North Korea to replace the specter of conflict with a bold and new push for peace,” Mr. Trump said, speaking about his Singapore summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. “We have engaged with North Korea to replace the specter of conflict with a bold and new push for peace,” Mr. Trump said, speaking about his Singapore summit meeting with Mr. Kim.
“The missiles and rockets are no longer flying in every direction, nuclear testing has stopped,” he said. “I would like to thank chairman Kim for his courage and for the steps he has taken though much work remains to be done.” “The missiles and rockets are no longer flying in every direction, nuclear testing has stopped,” the president said. “I would like to thank Chairman Kim for his courage and for the steps he has taken though much work remains to be done.”
However, Mr. Trump said sanctions against North Korea would stay in place until denuclearization occurs, but called the moment “far greater” than people would understand. Mr. Trump said that sanctions against North Korea would stay in place until denuclearization occurs, but called the moment “far greater” than people would understand.
He denounced Iran’s leaders, calling them a “corrupt dictatorship” responsible for “death and destruction” and said his re-imposition of nuclear sanctions had severely weakened the Iranian government. Mr. Trump denounced Iran’s leaders, calling them a “corrupt dictatorship” responsible for “death and destruction” and said his reimposition of nuclear sanctions had severely weakened the Iranian government.
“They do not respect their neighbors or borders or the sovereign rights of nations,” he said.“They do not respect their neighbors or borders or the sovereign rights of nations,” he said.
In a list of complaints about globalism, which he portrayed as a threat to American sovereignty, Mr. Trump rejected the legitimacy of the International Criminal Court, echoing recent statements by top aides like John R. Bolton, his national security adviser.In a list of complaints about globalism, which he portrayed as a threat to American sovereignty, Mr. Trump rejected the legitimacy of the International Criminal Court, echoing recent statements by top aides like John R. Bolton, his national security adviser.
“As far as America is concerned,” Mr. Trump said, the court — which prosecutes war crimes and crimes against humanity — has “no legitimacy and no authority.”“As far as America is concerned,” Mr. Trump said, the court — which prosecutes war crimes and crimes against humanity — has “no legitimacy and no authority.”
We “reject the ideology of globalism,” he said.We “reject the ideology of globalism,” he said.
He also spoke of renegotiating “bad and broken trade deals,” and said that “many nations agree that the trade system is in dire need” of change. He said the United States had “racked up $13 billion in trade deficits” in the last two decades.He also spoke of renegotiating “bad and broken trade deals,” and said that “many nations agree that the trade system is in dire need” of change. He said the United States had “racked up $13 billion in trade deficits” in the last two decades.
“But those days are over,” he said. “We will no longer tolerate such abuse.”“But those days are over,” he said. “We will no longer tolerate such abuse.”
While Mr. Trump touted America’s energy independence, he also assailed the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries — which includes Saudi Arabia, a strong United States ally — for rising oil prices. While Mr. Trump touted America’s energy independence, he assailed the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries — which includes Saudi Arabia, a strong United States ally — for rising oil prices.
OPEC nations are “ripping off the rest of the world,” he said. “I don’t like it. Nobody should like it.”OPEC nations are “ripping off the rest of the world,” he said. “I don’t like it. Nobody should like it.”
“We want them to stop raising prices, we want them to start lowering prices,” he said in reference to the OPEC cartel. “We are not going to put up with it, these horrible prices, much longer.”“We want them to stop raising prices, we want them to start lowering prices,” he said in reference to the OPEC cartel. “We are not going to put up with it, these horrible prices, much longer.”
Warning against international reliance on a single supplier of energy, Mr. Trump applauded some European nations, singling out Poland, for moving to establish pipelines with the Baltics to break a dependence on Russian oil — in one of his few mentions of Russia.Warning against international reliance on a single supplier of energy, Mr. Trump applauded some European nations, singling out Poland, for moving to establish pipelines with the Baltics to break a dependence on Russian oil — in one of his few mentions of Russia.
But as he has done before, he attacked Germany for what he called its energy dependence.But as he has done before, he attacked Germany for what he called its energy dependence.
“Germany will become totally dependent on Russian energy if it does not immediately change course,” Mr. Trump said.“Germany will become totally dependent on Russian energy if it does not immediately change course,” Mr. Trump said.
The fate of the Iran nuclear agreement, Mr. Trump’s overtures to North Korea, the wars in Syria and Yemen, the plight of Myanmar’s Rohingya minority, and the economic meltdown in once-prosperous Venezuela are among some of the major issues. António Guterres, the United Nations secretary general, who was first to address the General Assembly on Tuesday, called for solidarity among member nations and urged world leaders to help revitalize the global body at a time when multilateralism is “under fire.”
Underlying them all are what actions the Trump administration might announce to deal with them. And of course there is what diplomats have called the mother of all intractable disputes, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, in which Mr. Trump has alienated the Palestinians by denying them financial aid and siding with the Israelis on key issues. He focused his speech on a “trust deficit disorder” playing out around the world that has affected the United Nations’ ability to function. He also cited divisions in the Security Council — the United Nations body primarily responsible for maintaining international peace and security — that have left the council unable to make decisions.
There is some expectation that Mr. Trump’s chief adviser on the Middle East, his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, may finally unveil his long-awaited Israeli-Palestinian peace plan. But many diplomats have said they have no idea what would be in it, and some have speculated that the plan may not even exist. “We must repair broken trust,” Mr. Guterres said. “We must invigorate our multilateral project, and we must uphold dignity once and for all.”
António Guterres, secretary general of the United Nations, addressed the General Assembly first on Tuesday, calling for solidarity between member nations and urging world leaders to help revitalize the global body at a time when multilateralism is “under fire.” “Despite the chaos and confusion of our world, I see winds of hope blowing around the globe,” Mr. Guterres said, pointing to recent peace agreements between Ethiopia and Eritrea, and between warring parties in South Sudan.
He focused his speech on the “trust deficit disorder,” as he called it, playing out around the world that has impacted the ability of the United Nations to function. He cited divisions in the Security Council — the United Nations body primarily responsible for maintaining international peace and security — that have left the council unable to make decisions. In the hierarchy of the United Nations, the General Assembly president is considered one of the most prestigious positions. The president, elected annually, accords representatives of other member states the right to speak at assembly gatherings, makes decisions on points of order and has “complete control of the proceedings,” according to the rules.
“We must repair broken trust,” Mr. Guterres said, speaking in the cavernous General Assembly hall to representatives from around the world. “We must invigorate our multilateral project and we must uphold dignity once and for all.” This year, the assembly elected María Fernanda Espinosa Garcés, Ecuador’s foreign minister, for the role. She is the first woman from Latin America to be elected assembly president, and the fourth woman to hold that position in the history of the United Nations.
“Despite the chaos and confusion of our world, I see winds of hope blowing around the globe,” Mr. Guterres said, pointing to recent peace agreements between Ethiopia and Eritrea, and between warring parties in South Sudan’s civil war.
In the hierarchy of the United Nations, the president of the General Assembly is considered one of the most prestigious positions. The president, elected annually, accords representatives of other member states the right to speak at assembly gatherings, makes decisions on points of order and has “complete control of the proceedings,” according to the rules.
This year, the assembly elected María Fernanda Espinosa Garcés, the foreign minister of Ecuador. She is the first woman from Latin America to be elected as assembly president, and only the fourth woman to hold that position in the history of the United Nations.
In the official announcement in June that she had been elected, Ms. Espinosa dedicated her victory to “all the women in the world who participated in politics — sometimes facing political and media attacks marked by machismo and discrimination.”In the official announcement in June that she had been elected, Ms. Espinosa dedicated her victory to “all the women in the world who participated in politics — sometimes facing political and media attacks marked by machismo and discrimination.”
While the speech by President Trump may be the General Assembly’s main attraction, tradition dictates that he will not be the first person to speak during what is known as the general debate, when the leaders take turns addressing the body. That honor lies with Brazil — and has for decades. Why? While Mr. Trump’s speech may be the General Assembly’s main attraction, tradition dictates that is not be the first to speak during what is known as the general debate, when the leaders take turns addressing the body.
The answer dates to the early days of the United Nations, when, according to the UN Protocol and Liaison Services, no country wanted to be the first to speak. Brazil repeatedly volunteered to be the first nation on the agenda, and tradition stuck. That honor lies with Brazil — and has for decades. Why?
Brazil, which has been a member state of the United Nations since 1945 but does not have a permanent seat on the Security Council, has spoken first every year since 1955, save for three instances. This year, President Michel Temer — a deeply unpopular leader who has spent years fighting corruption charges, will be the first national leader to speak. The answer dates to the United Nations’ early days when, according to the United Nations Protocol and Liaison Services, no country wanted to be the first to speak. Brazil repeatedly volunteered to be the first nation on the agenda, and the tradition stuck.
The United States, as the host nation, is given the second slot, and then the order of speakers “follows a complex algorithm reflecting level of representation, geographical balance, the order in which the request to speak was recorded, and other considerations,” according to the United Nations. Brazil, which has been a United Nations member state since 1945 but does not have a permanent seat on the Security Council, has spoken first every year since 1955, save for three instances. This year, President Michel Temer, a deeply unpopular leader who has spent years fighting corruption charges, was the first national leader to speak.
The United States, as the host nation, is ordinarily given the second slot, although this year President Lenín Moreno of Ecuador spoke second because Mr. Trump was delayed.
The order of speakers then “follows a complex algorithm reflecting level of representation, geographical balance, the order in which the request to speak was recorded, and other considerations,” according to the United Nations.
Speakers are asked to keep their statements to less than 15 minutes, but world leaders often go over the allotted time. The longest-ever General Assembly speech was by Fidel Castro: four hours and 29 minutes, in 1960.Speakers are asked to keep their statements to less than 15 minutes, but world leaders often go over the allotted time. The longest-ever General Assembly speech was by Fidel Castro: four hours and 29 minutes, in 1960.
Who gave the United Nations its name?Who gave the United Nations its name?
The term "United Nations" was coined by President Franklin D. Roosevelt and was first used in the Declaration by United Nations of Jan. 1, 1942 — during World War II — when representatives of 26 nations pledged their governments to continue fighting together against the Axis Powers.The term "United Nations" was coined by President Franklin D. Roosevelt and was first used in the Declaration by United Nations of Jan. 1, 1942 — during World War II — when representatives of 26 nations pledged their governments to continue fighting together against the Axis Powers.
Who designed the United Nations flag?Who designed the United Nations flag?
Oliver Lincoln Lundquist, an American architect and industrial designer, led a team that created the design, a map of the world encased in two olive branches. He died Dec. 28, 2008 in New York at age 92.Oliver Lincoln Lundquist, an American architect and industrial designer, led a team that created the design, a map of the world encased in two olive branches. He died Dec. 28, 2008 in New York at age 92.
What United Nations declaration is the most translated document in the world?What United Nations declaration is the most translated document in the world?
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, proclaimed by the General Assembly in 1948, was the first to lay out basic human rights that apply to all peoples everywhere. It has been translated into more than 500 languages.The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, proclaimed by the General Assembly in 1948, was the first to lay out basic human rights that apply to all peoples everywhere. It has been translated into more than 500 languages.
What are the official languages of the United Nations?What are the official languages of the United Nations?
Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish.Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish.
Does the United Nations have an official anthem?Does the United Nations have an official anthem?
No, but a hymn was written for the United Nations and performed at its headquarters on Oct. 24, 1971, to celebrate the organization’s 25th anniversary. U Thant, the secretary general at the time, hoped it would be used after that on appropriate occasions. The music was created by Pablo Casals, the Spanish maestro, with lyrics by W.H. Auden, the English poet. They called it “A Hymn to the U.N.”No, but a hymn was written for the United Nations and performed at its headquarters on Oct. 24, 1971, to celebrate the organization’s 25th anniversary. U Thant, the secretary general at the time, hoped it would be used after that on appropriate occasions. The music was created by Pablo Casals, the Spanish maestro, with lyrics by W.H. Auden, the English poet. They called it “A Hymn to the U.N.”