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| U.N. General Assembly: Trump Chairs Security Council Meeting | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A day after President Trump appeared before the United Nations and made clear his disdain for a global approach to problem solving, he returned on Wednesday to wield the gavel at a meeting of the Security Council, the world organization’s most powerful body. | A day after President Trump appeared before the United Nations and made clear his disdain for a global approach to problem solving, he returned on Wednesday to wield the gavel at a meeting of the Security Council, the world organization’s most powerful body. |
| As the council’s current president, a rotating position, Mr. Trump is leading the group’s meeting on nonproliferation. But in his opening remarks, he focused his attention instead on sanctions against Iran and accused China of trying to meddle in the midterm elections in the United States, apparently referring to China’s retaliatory tariffs in an escalating trade war with that country. | |
| Mr. Trump also met with Benjamin Netanyahu, the prime minister of Israel, before the Security Council session and pledged his commitment to stand behind Israel “100 percent” while working toward a Middle East peace deal. | |
| A day earlier, in his speech before the United Nations General Assembly, some in the audience laughed as Mr. Trump said that more had been done so far during his time in office than in “almost any administration in the history of our country.” | |
| [Mr. Trump has accused China of interfering in the midterm elections.] | |
| During his opening remarks at the Security Council on Wednesday morning, Mr. Trump accused China of trying to meddle in this year’s midterm elections. | During his opening remarks at the Security Council on Wednesday morning, Mr. Trump accused China of trying to meddle in this year’s midterm elections. |
| “Regrettably, we found that China is attempting to interfere in our upcoming 2018 election, coming up in November, against my administration,” Mr. Trump said. “They do not want me, or us, to win, because I am the first president ever to challenge China on trade. And we are winning on trade, we are winning at every level.” | “Regrettably, we found that China is attempting to interfere in our upcoming 2018 election, coming up in November, against my administration,” Mr. Trump said. “They do not want me, or us, to win, because I am the first president ever to challenge China on trade. And we are winning on trade, we are winning at every level.” |
| Mr. Trump provided no evidence to back up this assertion, though it appears he was referring to China’s retaliatory tariffs in the escalating trade war. | Mr. Trump provided no evidence to back up this assertion, though it appears he was referring to China’s retaliatory tariffs in the escalating trade war. |
| Much of his speech was spent criticizing Iran, a theme that also dominated his address to the General Assembly a day earlier. | Much of his speech was spent criticizing Iran, a theme that also dominated his address to the General Assembly a day earlier. |
| “The regime is the world’s leading sponsor of terror and fuels conflict across the region and beyond,” Mr. Trump said, before calling the Iran nuclear deal a “horrible, one-sided” agreement. | “The regime is the world’s leading sponsor of terror and fuels conflict across the region and beyond,” Mr. Trump said, before calling the Iran nuclear deal a “horrible, one-sided” agreement. |
| Before the 2015 nuclear accord, he said of Iran, “They were in big, big trouble.” | Before the 2015 nuclear accord, he said of Iran, “They were in big, big trouble.” |
| “They needed cash; we gave it to them,” Mr. Trump said, referring to the lifting of sanctions as a result of the deal. | “They needed cash; we gave it to them,” Mr. Trump said, referring to the lifting of sanctions as a result of the deal. |
| He said he planned to introduce new economic sanctions on Iran later this year, adding that they would be “tougher than ever before.” | He said he planned to introduce new economic sanctions on Iran later this year, adding that they would be “tougher than ever before.” |
| Yet Mr. Trump also had positive words for Iran, thanking that country and Russia for delaying a planned offensive on Syria’s Idlib Province. | Yet Mr. Trump also had positive words for Iran, thanking that country and Russia for delaying a planned offensive on Syria’s Idlib Province. |
| President Emmanuel Macron of France, who spoke to the Security Council directly after Mr. Trump, urged unity within the group. He said that relations with Iran must not be limited to a “policy of sanctions,” and that long-term strategies must be put in place. | President Emmanuel Macron of France, who spoke to the Security Council directly after Mr. Trump, urged unity within the group. He said that relations with Iran must not be limited to a “policy of sanctions,” and that long-term strategies must be put in place. |
| The 15-member Security Council is the most powerful arm of the United Nations, with the ability to impose sanctions and authorize military intervention. — MEGAN SPECIA and TESS FELDER | |
| Before the Security Council meeting, Mr. Trump met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel. | Before the Security Council meeting, Mr. Trump met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel. |
| In a news briefing, Mr. Trump said he wanted to reassure Mr. Netanyahu and Israelis that “we are with Israel 100 percent.” | In a news briefing, Mr. Trump said he wanted to reassure Mr. Netanyahu and Israelis that “we are with Israel 100 percent.” |
| Mr. Trump said he expected to have a framework for a Middle East peace deal in the next “two to three to four months.” | Mr. Trump said he expected to have a framework for a Middle East peace deal in the next “two to three to four months.” |
| “I like two-state solution,” he said, according to a White House pool report. | “I like two-state solution,” he said, according to a White House pool report. |
| “I really believe something will happen,” Mr. Trump said. “It is a dream of mine to be able to get that done prior to the end of my first term.” | “I really believe something will happen,” Mr. Trump said. “It is a dream of mine to be able to get that done prior to the end of my first term.” |
| On the way into the Security Council meeting, Mr. Trump was asked whether he was willing to meet with President Nicolás Maduro of Venezuela. Mr. Trump said he was not opposed to the idea. | On the way into the Security Council meeting, Mr. Trump was asked whether he was willing to meet with President Nicolás Maduro of Venezuela. Mr. Trump said he was not opposed to the idea. |
| “I’m willing to meet with anybody, anytime I can save lives and help people,” he said. “If it’s one life, I am certainly willing to.” — MEGAN SPECIA | |
| Evo Morales, the president of Bolivia, took aim squarely at the United States in a statement delivered at the Security Council on Wednesday. | |
| Sitting just two seats from Mr. Trump, Mr. Morales said he “categorically condemns” the United States for reneging on its obligations under the Iran nuclear deal under “false pretenses.” Then he slammed the United States’ human rights record. | |
| “In no way is the U.S. interested in spreading democracy,” Mr. Morales said. “The United States could not care less about human rights or justice.” | |
| He went on to list his criticism of the United States: for “keeping children in cages,” a reference to the detention and separation of migrant children from their families at the United States-Mexico border; for Mr. Trump’s statements that the International Criminal Court has no jurisdiction or legitimacy; and for critical statements Mr. Trump has made about the Human Rights Council. | |
| The leftist Bolivian leader has been a vocal critic of United States foreign policy since he took office in 2006. Bolivia joined the Security Council for a two-year term in 2017 as one of the 10 rotating United Nations member states on the council. | |
| Mr. Trump offered a gruff, “Thank you, Mr. President,” to Mr. Morales before handing the floor over to the next speaker. — MEGAN SPECIA | |
| Mr. Trump, in his second address to the General Assembly, boasted on Tuesday of what he called impressive accomplishments in the United States and around the world. | Mr. Trump, in his second address to the General Assembly, boasted on Tuesday of what he called impressive accomplishments in the United States and around the world. |
| “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 murmurs of laughter by world leaders in the cavernous hall. |
| “I did not expect that reaction,” he said. | “I did not 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 said. “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 said. “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 wall along the border with Mexico, defeated the Islamic State and eased the crisis with North Korea through dialogue with the leader of the nuclear-armed state. | He said that under his administration the United States had started building a wall along the border with Mexico, defeated the Islamic State and eased the crisis with North Korea through dialogue with the leader of the nuclear-armed state. |
| “The missiles and rockets are no longer flying in every direction, nuclear testing has stopped,” said the president, who met in Singapore earlier this year with North Korea’s leader, Kim Jong-un. “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,” said the president, who met in Singapore earlier this year with North Korea’s leader, Kim Jong-un. “I would like to thank Chairman Kim for his courage and for the steps he has taken though much work remains to be done.” |
| Mr. Trump then turned his attention to Iran, denouncing the country’s leaders and calling the government there a “corrupt dictatorship” responsible for “death and destruction.” He said his reimposition of nuclear sanctions had severely weakened the Iranian government. | Mr. Trump then turned his attention to Iran, denouncing the country’s leaders and calling the government there a “corrupt dictatorship” responsible for “death and destruction.” He said his reimposition of nuclear sanctions had severely weakened the Iranian government. |
| 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.” |
| Mr. Trump also assailed the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries — which includes Saudi Arabia, a strong United States ally — over rising oil prices. | Mr. Trump also assailed the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries — which includes Saudi Arabia, a strong United States ally — over rising oil prices. |
| OPEC nations are “ripping off the rest of the world,” he said. “I don’t like it. Nobody should like it.” — RICK GLADSTONE, TESS FELDER and MICHAEL SCHWIRTZ | |
| President Hassan Rouhani of Iran, who has all but ruled out a meeting with Mr. Trump, spoke hours after the American president and offered a diametrically opposite portrait of his country. Iran, he said, is law abiding, respectful and first in the fight against terrorism. | President Hassan Rouhani of Iran, who has all but ruled out a meeting with Mr. Trump, spoke hours after the American president and offered a diametrically opposite portrait of his country. Iran, he said, is law abiding, respectful and first in the fight against terrorism. |
| Mr. Rouhani denounced the Trump administration not only for repudiating the nuclear agreement but also for threatening through the use of sanctions to punish any country that seeks to do business with Iran. | Mr. Rouhani denounced the Trump administration not only for repudiating the nuclear agreement but also for threatening through the use of sanctions to punish any country that seeks to do business with Iran. |
| “The economic war that the United States has initiated under the rubric of new sanctions not only targets the Iranian people but entails harmful repercussions for people of other countries,” Mr. Rouhani said. | “The economic war that the United States has initiated under the rubric of new sanctions not only targets the Iranian people but entails harmful repercussions for people of other countries,” Mr. Rouhani said. |
| He also made clear that he thought Mr. Trump’s offer to talk with Iran’s leaders was disingenuous at best. | He also made clear that he thought Mr. Trump’s offer to talk with Iran’s leaders was disingenuous at best. |
| “It is ironic that the United States government does not even conceal its plan for overthrowing the same government it invites to talks,” Mr. Rouhani said. — RICK GLADSTONE | |