Trump laughs off headlines

REPORTS OF WORLD MOCKING HIM : REBUTS CLAIMS DELEGATES WERE RIDICULING HIM

‘In two years my administration has accomplished more than almost any other...’ – remark that prompted chuckles.

US President Donald Trump says the United Nations (UN) wasn’t laughing at him when he boasted about his government’s successes during a speech to world diplomats. They were just sharing a “good time”.

“We had fun,” he told journalists in New York on Wednesday. “They weren’t laughing at me, they were laughing with me,” he said. “People had a good time with me.”

The incident took place during Trump’s speech to the annual UN General Assembly. Trump had launched into what sounded more like a campaign speech ahead of November’s congressional elections, boasting in trademark fashion of how “in less than two years my administration has accomplished more than almost any administration in the history of our country”.

Assembled global dignitaries started to chuckle. Trump then interrupted his speech and insisted, “So true,” at which the laughter became audible. Trump smiled and said, “I didn’t expect that reaction, but that’s okay.”

Headlines quickly emerged about the world laughing at Trump. But on Wednesday, Trump said he had simply connected with an audience not known for levity.

Meanwhile, The US was not able to register any achievements at the United Nations General Assembly meeting which took place this week, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said yesterday. Rouhani and Trump exchanged threats and insults during their speeches at the UN. “The Americans had no achievements in this public assembly,” Rouhani said, at a news conference broadcast on state TV on his return to Tehran.

The assembly had shown America’s isolation, he said. “When Mr Trump was speaking and at the beginning of his speech bragged a lot about the accomplishments of his two-year-old administration, everyone laughed. What’s important is that today, other than one or two countries, no one supports America,” he said. “It’s a historic political isolation that is rare for America.” –

Picture: EPA-EFE MODESTY BE DAMNED. US President Donald Trump talks to reporters at the New York Lotte hotel this week, on the sidelines of the general debate of the United Nations General Assembly.