On Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2017, President Donald J. Trump addressed the U.N. for the first official time since taking office. The president’s opening comments offered a warm welcome to U.N. members to his beloved home city. However, the mood among many of the world’s leaders included apprehension. Perhaps the results of Trump’s highly vocalized criticism of the organization. Nevertheless, the message included an ultimatum for North Korea, clarified “America First,” and focused on the importance of maintaining a sovereign and free global society. A society in which future generations can live without fear, oppression, and turmoil.
The speech marked the latest opportunity for the president to clarify his America First foreign policy. The plan seeks to downgrade alliances based on shared interests, deterring Washington from building nations and global bureaucracies, according to Reuters. Trump says it is not his intention to impose American culture will on other societies, but to encourage mutual respect for sovereign authority.
I will defend America’s interest above all else. But in fulfilling our obligations to other nations we also realize it’s in everyone’s interest to seek a future where all nations can be sovereign, prosperous and secure.
President Trump also took the opportunity to praise the growth of the American economy, since he took office eight months ago. Highlighting the record-high stock market, in addition to the return of companies to the United States. Furthermore, as a result of recent regulatory changes, more people are working in the U.S. than ever before. However, since Congress has not passed any of the regulatory reforms, it is still too early for any of Trump’s reforms to have made a difference, according to The Washington Post.
The recent announcement to spend $700 billion on U.S. military and defense, provides the backdrop for the president’s bold statement, “Our military will be the strongest it has ever been.”
Trump attacked Iran’s leadership for destabilizing the Middle East. Additionally, he criticized the regime for being a corrupt dictatorship operating under the false guise of a democracy. He alluded to withdrawing from the nuclear deal struck by the Obama administration with Iran and five other U.N. member states. The president called it a blatant embarrassment to the U.S., as reported by NPR Politics.
The president escalated his impasse with North Korea over its continued testing of ballistic missiles and nuclear challenge. Referring to Kim Jong Un as “Rocket Man,” Trump sent a clear message, while closely sticking to a script and speaking to the 193-member world body.
In recent weeks, according to NPR Politics, Russia and China unanimously voted to impose economic sanctions on North Korea. However, Trump urged the international community to do more to contain the Kim regime. He had this to say to North Korea:
The United States has great strength and patience, but if it is forced to defend itself or its allies, we will have no choice but to totally destroy North Korea.
Trump believes it is an outrage that some countries continue to trade with such a regime. Calling it depraved and citing atrocities such as the starvation deaths of millions, torture, false imprisonment, and the oppression of dozens more. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg says the comments by the president are typical and another example of strong language and rhetoric, as reported by CBS News.
Although reactions to the president’s speech are mixed, and many believe he did not choose his words wisely, the Israeli prime minister applauded. Benjamin Netanyahu said, “In over 30 years in my experience with the UN, I never heard a bolder or more courageous speech.”
By Jireh Gibson
Sources:
The Washington Post: Trump’s menacing United Nations speech, annotated
Reuters: If threatened, U.S. will ‘totally destroy’ North Korea, Trump vows
CBS NEWS: Trump warns U.S. will “destroy” North Korea in UN General Assembly speech
NPR Politics: Trump to U.N.: North Korea’s ‘Rocket Man’ Kim Jong Un On a Suicide Mission
Top and featured image courtesy of Abir Anwar’s Flickr page – Creative Commons License