The United States President Donald Trump cracked up world leaders present at the 73rd United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) after he said in two years his “administration has accomplished more than almost any other in the history of US”, reported international media.
In reaction to the laughter that followed, Trump said:
“Didn’t expect that reaction, but that’s okay.”US President Donald Trump
‘US Stock Market at an All-Time High’
Trump went on to say that America's economy is booming like never before and since his election, the US has added USD 10 trillion in wealth.
The stock market is at an all-time high in history African-American, Hispanic-American, and Asian-American unemployment have all achieved their lowest levels ever recorded.US President Donald Trump
He further said his administration has added four million new jobs including half a million manufacturing jobs and has passed the biggest tax cuts and reforms in American history.
“We have started the construction of a major border wall and we have greatly strengthened border security. We have secured record funding for our military, USD 700 billion this year and USD 716 billion next year. Our military will soon be more powerful than it has ever been before.”
“In other words, the United States is stronger, safer, and a richer country than it was when I assumed office two years ago. We are standing up for America and the American people, and we are also standing up for the world,” he said.
India a Free Society, Successfully Lifting Millions out of Poverty: Trump
In his speech, Trump also lauded India for its efforts to lift millions of its citizens out of poverty and said India was part of a "beautiful constellation" of countries working for a common future, reported IANS.
“There is India, a free society (of) over a billion people, successfully lifting countless millions out of poverty and into the middle class.”US President Donald Trump
"Many countries are pursuing their own unique visions, building their own hopeful futures and chasing their own dreams of destiny, of legacy and of a home," he said.
"The world is richer, humanity is better because of this beautiful constellation of nations."
Among other things at his address, Trump said “we reject the ideology of globalism, and we embrace the doctrine of patriotism,” tweeted BBC World.
Trump Rejects ‘Idealogy of Globalism’
In a break with tradition, Trump spoke third at the the high-level General Assembly session instead of the second as he arrived late.
The first head of state to speak is always from Brazil, followed by the US President.
However, President Lenin Moreno Garces of Ecuador, a critic of the US, took the second spot with a wide-ranging critique of Washington.
Trump, who took the third spot, emphasised his America First policy with a declaration that he rejected the “ideology of globalism” for a belief in patriotism and he reiterated his hardline against countries like China, Iran and Venezuela, reported IANS.
He criticised OPEC for "ripping off the rest of the world" and demanded that the OPEC nations cut their "horrible prices" because "we are not going to put up with it."
He also accused Iran of “slaughter in Syria and Yemen” and said that “war will follow” after his decision to reimpose sanctions on Iran.
Trump’s relationship with the United Nations has not been a very smooth one. In June 2018, the United States pulled out of United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHCR) and accused the council of “disproportionate focus and unending hostility towards Israel.”
(With inputs from BBC World and IANS.)
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