World leaders laugh at Trump
UNITED NATIONS (AP) — US President Donald Trump got some laughter when he addressed world leaders on Tuesday. It wasn’t intentional.
US President Donald Trump sits with his eyes closed after addressing the 73rd session of the United Nations General Assembly at the UN headquarters in New York on Sept. 25. His boast that his administration accomplished more in less than two years than almost any other administration elicited laughter from the scores of heads of state and delegates in the audience.
The president was highlighting US gains under his watch as he opened his address to the UN General Assembly. He said the American economy was “booming like never before” and that his administration has accomplished more in less than two years than almost any other administration.
His boast elicited laughter from the scores of heads of state and delegates in the audience for the speech.
Trump, who has long claimed that his predecessors’ weak leadership prompted other nations “to laugh” at the US, appeared flustered and responded, “I didn’t expect that reaction, but that’s OK.”
Later, as he was leaving the UN, he told reporters that he had meant to be funny.
“Oh it was great, well, that was meant to get some laughter, so it was great,” he said.
The leaders’ spontaneous response to Trump’s address only reinforced the American president’s isolation among allies and foes alike, as his nationalistic policies have created rifts with erstwhile partners and cast doubt in some circles about the reliability of American commitments around the world.
In his speech, Trump said the US is a “stronger, safer and richer country” than when he took office in January 2017. He said “we are standing up for America and for the American people, and we are also standing up for the world.”
A little further into his speech, German diplomats appeared bemused by Trump’s latest swipe at their country as he reiterated his criticism of Germany’s planned undersea gas pipeline from Russia.
After the president’s warning that “Germany will become totally dependent on Russian energy if it does not immediately change course,” cameras showed German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas gently shaking his head, while senior diplomats smiled.
Some in the audience also grumbled during Trump’s remarks when he said “we reject the ideology” of globalism. When Trump criticized socialism, a member of the Swedish delegation frowned with disapproval.
“The US will not tell you how to live and work or worship,” Trump said as he unapologetically promoted his “America First” agenda. “We only ask that you honor our sovereignty in return.”
Speaking in triumphal terms, Trump approached his address to the world body as something of an annual report to the world on his country’s progress since his inauguration.
Since taking office, Trump has removed the US from the Paris climate accord, promoted protectionist tariffs and questioned the value of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and other alliances in furtherance of what he termed on Tuesday a strategy of “principled realism.”