Before Trump addressed the United Nations General Assembly today for over half an hour, he tweeted, “Our country is much stronger and much richer than it was when I took office less than two years ago. We are also MUCH safer!” The Trump UN speech, which began around 10:40 a.m. ET, started off with some laughter — laughter that was noted by much of the nation.
“Madam President, Mr. Secretary General, world leaders, ambassadors and distinguished delegates: One year ago I stood before you for the first time in this grand hall,” Trump said. “I addressed the threats facing our world and I presented a vision to achieve a brighter future for all of humanity. Today, I stand before the United Nations General Assembly to share the extraordinary progress we have made.”
Then came this: “In less than two years, my administration has accomplished more than almost any administration in the history of our country.”
“America’s…” he continued, then nodded at someone in the crowd and stated, “So true.”
The General Assembly, made up of policymakers from all 193 Member States of the UN, laughed. (They’re also the reason traffic in NYC is particularly bad this week.) When Trump said into the microphone, “Didn’t expect that reaction, but that’s okay,” the General Assembly laughed even harder.
Watch this play out below:
JUST IN: “We reject the ideology of globalism, and we embrace the doctrine of patriotism,” President Trump tells the UN General Assembly. pic.twitter.com/h48Cqud3Wl
— NBC News (@NBCNews) September 25, 2018
The White House transcribes this part of the Trump UN speech as follows:
In less than two years, my administration has accomplished more than almost any administration in the history of our country.
America’s — so true. (Laughter.) Didn’t expect that reaction, but that’s okay. (Laughter and applause.)
Trump continued on to speak about his “America First” foreign policy, denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and why he chose to take the U.S. out of the Iran deal, tax cuts and signs of a “booming” economy.
Towards the end of the Trump UN speech, he says, “Inside everyone in this great chamber today, and everyone listening all around the globe, there is the heart of a patriot that feels the same powerful love for your nation, the same intense loyalty to your homeland.”
When we embrace this patriotism, “not erase it,” he argues that the world is better and safer for everyone.
“Let us choose peace and freedom over domination and defeat,” the Trump UN speech concludes. “And let us come here to this place to stand for our people and their nations, forever strong, forever sovereign, forever just, and forever thankful for the grace and the goodness and the glory of God.”
Watch the entire Trump UN General Assembly speech
To view the full video of the Trump UN speech, head over to the White House website or see the footage below.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 25, 2018
You can also find the full transcript on the WH site.
Twitter responds to the Trump UN speech
Dr. Robert Jeffress, a pastor and best-selling author, tweeted after the fact: “President @realDonaldTrump just delivered the strongest speech to the United Nations of any president in history—Democrat or Republican. His bold and courageous address is another reminder of why he was elected president—and others weren’t.”
Trump Jr. also praised his father’s remarks:
Well said @realDonaldTrump ?
“We will never surrender American sovereignty to an unelected…global bureaucracy. America’s governed by Americans. We reject the ideology of globalism & we embrace a doctrine of patriotism.” #unga
— Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) September 25, 2018
And, as expected, the Trump UN speech laughter was a hot topic of conversation.
The next time Trump claims “We’re respected again,” remember that on this date there was laughter from world leaders assembled at the UN when he said he’d achieved more than any US president in history.
“I didn’t expect that reaction,” he says.— Jackie Calmes (@jackiekcalmes) September 25, 2018
THE PRESIDENT WAS JUST LAUGHED AT IN FRONT OF THE UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY. pic.twitter.com/NY4kJYeEir
— Hartzell (@hartzell965) September 25, 2018
“Many people seem amused by the UN laughter at Trump,” Mother Jones national affairs editor Mark Follman wrote. “I think it’s really sad. He is a historic embarrassment for the United States.”
One Twitter user argued, “People laugh when they’re threatened.”
Others pointed out that Trump tweeted this back in 2014:
We need a President who isn’t a laughing stock to the entire World. We need a truly great leader, a genius at strategy and winning. Respect!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 9, 2014
It’s ironic depending on how you viewed the General Assembly’s laughter. Were these policymakers laughing at Trump or with him? You decide.
