Mr. Trump's approach reminds me of some of the founders I've known at software startups. They fancy themselves master manipulators and delight in their ability to do the old 180, overpromise on things their developers can't deliver, suck investors in too deep to pull out etc. etc. etc. The problem is that this isn't some tiny business venture where individual heroism can overcome the insanity of the man or woman at the top. This is a government with hundreds of thousands working with other governments of similar size and all those people need clear and unambiguous direction if we are not to devolve into chaos. We cannot afford an incompetent, narcissistic bully at the top.
9
Stephen Miller wrote the speech. Are you sure Sheldon Adelson wasn't at his elbow?
7
Trump praises Kim for SAYING he will denuclearize. Trump criticizes Iran for ACTUAL denuclearization. We are so used to Trump's idiocy that we don't notice it. But, as Trump said, the world is laughing at us.
13
Megalomania.
6
If generating laughter was Donald’s objective, why did Fox News carefully edit it out of their coverage of the speech?
It’s a great watch on YouTube if you want to see more of the ubiquitous cognitive dissonance that exists in today’s GOP.
12
Hopefully his spectacle and audience reaction will motivate someone to take a line from the SC Rep. Joe Wilson playbook and yell out, “YOU LIE.”
Imagine if all those laughing screamed it in the language of their nations. He would hear about 185 translated YOU LIEs in his ear piece in succession.
Now that’s a moment worth hoping for.
10
It was great to hear everyone laughing at Trump's lies. They should do the same in Congress when he gives the State of the Union. A pathological liar should not be coddled.
12
Trump has speech writers. So.......... Someone let him present those first lines to the U.N. Is his speech writer a Democrat?
2
@Bette Andresen Perhaps if he read what he's reading first, but he doesn't have time to worry about how what comes out of his mouth is perceived. He wouldn't want to be mistaken for a real leader.
2
How applicable Stephen Crane's short poem, "A Man Said to the Universe" is in describing the self centered mentality of the current occupant of the WH:
A man said to the universe:
“Sir, I exist!”
“However,” replied the universe,
“The fact has not created in me
A sense of obligation.”
6
“America is governed by Americans. We reject the ideology of globalism, and we embrace the ideology of patriotism.”
You can just see Stephen Miller, the racist fanatical ultra right winger and the current stand-in for Trump's brain, spewing those words. I'm certain they are all his.
This statement perfectly expresses the utterly sociopathic mental illness that has taken over the Republican Party over the last 50 years. Now the Birchers, who normal people have always considered total wackos, are in charge.
12
Rufus T. Firefly, President of Freedonia gave a speech yesterday at the UN and was laughed at.....Groucho Marx would have been proud!
4
Globalization is a positive process for all humans it is for mankind to manage not condemn. Thomas Friedman has it right. Our national character and social stability will be defined by how we manage and control the inevitable forces of our own progress. trump is incapable of understanding this or managing it. The best we can do is laugh along with the rest of the world and vote him out ASAP.
10
The world leaders at the UNGA could simply laugh at Trump when he was ranting against the globalism and giving vent to his anger and frustration against the perceived enemies specially Iran. It was a clear case of an odd man out at the global Forum.
4
Prof. Jai Prakash Sharma: Yes, a global Forum in which 22% of the budget is paid for by the USA. The UN would be a fairly lonely place without those financial resources. (Think League of Nations)
Three cheers for Macron- rogue nations that ignore the threat climate change is imposing on us all should be shunned. We all share the same air, the same planet-- if Trump and his cohort aren't turned from their destructive path by science and reason, perhaps the voters will wake up when the money stops coming in.
9
Mr. Trump declared, “In less than two years, my administration has accomplished more than almost any administration in the history of our country,” the crowd broke into murmurs and laughter.
Trump, afterwards to reporters, claimed that he meant to make world leaders laugh during his address to the United Nations.
OK, so now everyone should give the man what he wants. Whenever Trump talks about his "great" accomplishments the crowd present should break out in laughter at his joke.
10
Trump’s entire life has been about compensating for that deep sense of inadequacy and that people were secretly laughing at him. Now people are openly laughing at him.
12
And there they go again...
Nikki Haley states that the world leaders laughing at Trump's absurd "greatest accomplishments in US history" statement was not ridicule, but rather a sign of RESPECT for Trump.
1
@JM If there's no antidote for the kool aid she's drinking, there's no hope for her.
6
How can these toadies keep living with themselves?
4
Laughing at him is what we and the press should have been doing all along rather than taking anything he's said or done as remotely serious.
9
Why would Donald go to the United Nations to denigrate globalism?
Isn't that like going to the United Kingdom to rail against monarchy? You might think that, but it's not comme il faut.
5
A Doug Saunders column in Canada's Globe and Mail nicely sums up the absurdity and danger of Trump: https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/article-from-tragedy-to-farce-ho...
America's faded luster and diminished influence will be this President's legacy.
6
Yeah, Jefferson, Lincoln, Grant, Teddy Roosevelt, Wilson, FDR, Eisenhower, Johnson ... whatever your political stripe, the accomplishments of deconstructing some of your predecessor’s regulatory schemes, passing a tax cut, failing to reform health care, embracing hostile dictators, ballooning the national debt, do not come close to the monumental tasks accomplished by the great men who occupied the office. The comparison and boast is outrageously false.
As for laughter, if that is what is heard in open, diplomatic circles, consider the downright scorn and contempt expressed behind closed doors, and that extends beyond the President to Congress and the electorate that put Mr. Trump in the Oval Office.
Make America Great Again? Make America disrespected is more like it. And in objective, global fairness, a well-deserved result.
10
Poland and Saudi Arabia both have dim human rights records. Saudi Arabia is a complete monarchy, where one can receive a punishment of 1,000 lashes for blogging. Poland has government control of public media outlets, and has fired more than 200 journalists this year. Interesting that these are the governments Trump holds up as "worthy partners" for the USA. Is this what's in store for Americans?
10
My 89 yo Arkansas born & raised, life long Republican, Reagan loving, member of “The Greatest Generation,” flag waving, mother has seen through this buffoon from the day he was the GOP candidate. She watched and wept as he embarrassed our once great country at the UN. A country that she worked and sacrificed for, a country that shed the blood of her small hometown citizens during WWII, a country that has been decimated by a party she once proudly supported is now a joke in the eyes of the world. She wept long and hard, as did I.
31
On the one hand it's terribly embarrassing to see a moronic, narcissistic and delusional man representing United States of America to the world stage. We realize that when these countries are laughing at him they are indirectly laughing at us. And this is yet another reason why it becomes harder and harder to find any redeeming feature in Donald Trump as president of the US.
On the other hand, the UN General Assembly might be trying to tell us something – ridicule, where autocrats and dictators are concerned is often the best medicine served when attempting to dilute their potency. Europeans have taken to ridiculing neo-Nazis in the most fervent and hilarious way. Perhaps it'll work for us to do the same thing for this man who has become a clear and present danger to our national security,and is a threat to our day to day well-being. Don't get fooled by the stock market – this will only last for a while. What we all need to be concerned about is the damage that this man will do and the mess that we will have to clean up many years after he is a ridiculous memory.
9
cheers to the u.n. for laughing at the u.s.'s "special child".
7
Does Trump even understand that it is afterall called "The United Nations"?
3
The world is not laughing at the United States, Mr. Trump. The world is laughing at you.
12
Please,please SNL get A. Baldwin a sketch for the show. Something like him sitting at desk making calls to leaders of other countries asking how they liked his speech. And all you here is raucous laughter. One after another, after another. With Pence smiling, and Kelly Ann saying they loved it!
5
TRUMP: I am OZ!
WORLD: No, you are not
3
Really unbelievable!
2
Putin wins again.
2
There's zero chance he's even read it, but seems apropos:
"I have seen the moment of my greatness flicker,
And I have seen the eternal Footman hold my coat, and snicker,
And in short, I was afraid."
The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock (T.S. Eliot)
4
What a pleasant relief to find that some people, by laughing, are willing to acknowledge that the Emperor is not wearing any clothes.
20
Trump understood that his silly habits of marketing his brand with a lot of bragging and misrepresenting of facts were not taken well by this audience when they laughed. It was of course too late to avoid the dead end he’d walked into, so he admitted he was surprised and laughed.
Trump does not listen. He’s always thinking about what to say or do to get what he wants at the moment which is usually to be the center of attention. He ignored to who he was speaking, people who have achieved the highest positions of power across the world, people who have spent their lives in governance, politics, international relations, and in influencing whole nations of people into following their leadership. They listened last year in silence because he was President and they needed to understand him. Now they know him and they are unimpressed with his behavior which ignores who they are and what they now know. He needs to listen better and to opine not at all. He was not talking to a political base of supporters who love his act with this audience.
16
People deserve to be treated as they treat others.
Laughing at Trump is fair and reasonable. A) He laughs at people, and a whole lot worse. B) He says absurd things that nobody outside of a Trump rally would believe.
Maybe the U.N. delegates would also be justified in lying to Trump, insulting and trash-tweeting him on a regular basis. But then they would be stooping to his level, and one country's leader acting like that is already one too many.
Or maybe reporters should learn to laugh at him in press conferences whenever he says absurd things. After all they check their facts and understand the issues, unlike Trump, and he insults them whenever he's not happy or gets caught doing something else wrong.
Trump deserves to be treated as he treats others. Believe me, believe me!
16
It's the United Nations! You don't show up and reject 'globalism' and then make a campaign speech about your accomplishments domestically and expect rounds of applause. What an embarrassment!
27
This amounts to more grist for the mill of the 25th Amendment. Someday soon we'll need to revisit it because it is far too difficult to implement the part where a majority of the cabinet and the VP put an errant POTUS into time out.
5
"But after a year of such bombast, many in the audience at the United Nations treated him almost as a source of levity, not fear."
A lesson for us all.
11
Bolton, Miller and Bannon. The trio running our government for Putin. Trump is the puppet mouthpiece.
23
President Trump’s speech was music to my ears. Globalism and western cultural elitism are eliminating the most important thing we humans have: cultural identity.
4
You feel that your way of life is being taken from you by others. They are just being themselves, they are taking nothing from you.
Cultures are habits of solving the challenges that societies have developed. They never remain the same when new challenges are confronted. They change in order to adapt to new realities.
7
@Rosalyn Why is cultural identity the most important thing we have? Why not technology? Why not family bonds? I can think of many things more important.
3
While Trump was the fool who delivered the speech and expected applause, who was the fool who wrote his lines, and thought them appropriate to the occasion?
Trump's extemporaneous speech can't be helped - the lies and delusions of grandeur emerge from his addled brain and roll off his forked tongue without the slightest stop for a reality check in between. But the writer of prepared remarks has the opportunity to minimize the lies and delusions, and this time didn't. (Maybe it was Anonymous?)
What resulted was the same speech Trump might give at a campaign rally, simply delivered at a more solemn pace and volume to suit the circumstances.
11
What a difference an intellegent audience makes.
51
@Blue in Green
Yes, and what's so scary is that very few members of this audience were from the U.S.
5
Trump thinks speaking at the UN would be the same as speaking to screened Trump fans in West Virginia. The leaders of the world seated before him laughed at his cartoonish, boorish remarks. What an embarrassment. His republican enablers should be so proud.
46
The president shouldn't be Stephen Miller's mouthpiece, but he is.
30
Humanity has unquestionably one really effective weapon—laughter. The assault of laughter nothing can stand. — Mark Twain
No, Mr. Trump they are not laughing with you, but at you.
37
Mr. T can stand assaults of laughter because he knows he has very strong supporters; American voters (not all, maybe not the majority, but enough of the voters).
3
@Josh
Trump has 36% approval rating.
Only 20% of Americans 18 or older are Republicans...minus many many women after this week.
Definitely not enough.
Trump went from National Embarrassment to World Embarrassment.
28
@Chico
Of course, he shoots for the top!
4
President Trump is showing an increasing disconnect from reality. The history books are littered with similar examples of failed leaders.
Amazingly we see history once again unfolding our very eyes.
17
Great job, Mr.Trump. Forget about Germany. This place is once again a lost cause. Let them laugh. Their leader is about as weak as they come. Maybe they won't be laughing much longer. Keep up the good work and built that darn wall!
4
@Chris Anderson
Apparently some people, including our President, are simply unable to acknowledge reality.
20
@Chris Anderson I have lived in Germany for fifteen years including during the refugee influx. I had to return to the U.S two years ago and experience the corruption and lack of human decency that is the Republican Party, I look forward to retiring back in Germany. Where my sons will not have to pay exorbitant tuition for college. They will have health care, experience a higher standard of living than here, have 6 weeks of vacation per year, public transportation everywhere. It is different and much better than the dog eat dog mentality that is growing pervasive in the U.S.
There are problems in Germany mostly from the rise of an ignorant, racist party which has no constructive policies much like Trump and the Republicans.
34
DRTmunich. Germany might not be such a great place to retire if the USA withdraws from NATO. (And it is very likely that is the direction this is headed.) Listen to the anti-globalism message, now prevalent in our nation. Don't underestimate its appeal to the American electorate. In certain quarters it is anathema, but in the American hinterlands it has support. It is the message that allowed Trump to be elected. He is no longer an underfunded candidate, as in 2016.
So, Trump’s speech was written by Stephen Miller with input from John Bolton. No wonder the UN delegates laughed.
31
@Glevine Yes but can you imagine the howls of laughter his speech would have gotten if instead he went off script and launched into one of his rally rants?
7
Yesterday, Donald Trump's clairvoyance was on full display. He once fretted that the United States has become the laughingstock of the world. At the United Nations his words became a self-fulfilling prophecy.
37
I wonder if Donald Trump knows the UN Assembly were laughing AT him instead of WITH him.
19
@Oliver. Clever cut! I guess that Mr. T was triumphantly smiling because he thought the audience enjoyed his grand speech and they smiled along with him in agreement and awe.
What a self-centered person he is!
4
The few slavish acolytes of the President here seem to have simultaneously invented a new talking point called the Apology Tour of 2021. It is doubtful that it sprang unprompted from their imaginations. Roger Ailes crafted messages daily and his entire entourage was expected to parrot them. This method has served the far Right well, so why not continue it?
3
Trump has always been a laughing stock in my circle. Now the World recognizes the incompetence and bombast. Soon, Trump will reduce our Nation to a laughingstock if we do not exorcise him from our presence.
19
@DENOTE MORDANT Please don't even think about impeachment. Thought of a President Pence is not cause for levity - it is pure terror. All the damage of the Trump program with none of the entertainment, and pursued with the fervor of a religious fanatic determined to force everyone into the narrow and exclusive mold of what he calls faith.
7
@Charles, Warrenville, IL - a clearly defined and serious evil (Pence) will be easier to fight than a shape-shifting bombastic liar. Part of Trump’s appeal to his base is his boastfulness and his bombast. Pence would appeal to a much narrower audience and would be worse while in office but easier to defeat in the mid-terms.
Trump is trying to blackmail the world with his tariffs and sanctions - look at the Canadian NAFTA negotiations- making Canadian on line purchases from the US tax free - in direct contradiction of the new US law requiring all states to collect sales tax! Taxing cars - I expect Canada will find a market in China; dairy - welcome European countries do not want milk with antibiotics and growth hormone. The UN is a global forum - Stephen Miller and Steve Bannon write Trump’s speeches - he’s only the ventriloquist’s dummy, drawing the expected laughs. Trump’s greatest achievements have been to destabilize the country and world.
17
There are moments of truth so unexpected, so clear, so achingly appropriate - mere moments that cut so incisively through days, weeks, months of tumult and thunder, that time seems to stop in acknowledgement.
Yesterday's quiet laughter in the General Assembly of the United Nations was one of those moments.
Donald Trump's greatest skill is in promoting himself. He portrays himself as the Sun, so important that all he touches must inexorably be drawn into the reach of his gravitational pull, until they get so close that they crash and burn, while he moves on.
It is understandable that Donald Trump was taken aback by the reaction to his claim of greatness; laughter he has provoked before, but none so gentle and casual and unimpressed.
Donald Trump has no clothes, and the rest of the world knows it.
52
@Teg Laer The Emperor wears no clothes...and he gets laughed at. People have nightmares like this.
4
One of the key pathologic traits of a true Sociopath is to isolate and control his target with absolute power. Sound familiar? He cannot live in sunlight, hence the withdrawal from the world stage and alienation of the U.N. and our former allies.
Trump feels safe controlling the "Island of America" - rejecting all outside influence, immigration, global agreements. He refuses to accept any responsibility for his many crimes like kidnapping immigrant children, gifting trillions to the rich and cozying up to other tyrants like Kim. He uses hostility and fear to fire up his base of blind sycophants while totally ignoring and disenfranchising the vast majority of non-Trump, non-Trumplican Americans.
The world nations in the forum of the U.N. see him as he is and have finally lost all respect for this Dotard; this disgraces ALL Americans, even though he does not speak for most of us. We need to get rid of him if we are ever to regain an honorable position in the world that involves more than just money (which is fleeting and will soon crash in the worst depression ever).
28
If Stephen Miller wrote Trump's speech, who is Trump really? A mouth piece for the Millers and Bannon's of our world. We now have a puppet for a president. He wants the glory and knowing his enormous ego, such men pull the strings. He wins with some while the rest cannot believe what we now have in 45!
Read Woodward's Fear, and you will find Trump changes his beliefs to fit voters.
What a fall my countrymen.
30
Trump won't get it. He probably thinks of himself as something of a comic. He had them rolling in the aisles at the UN.
6
America's real power comes not from military might but from our long term relationships based on trust and common goals. Trump is systematically obliterating these relationships and squandering our respected position as a just and responsible world leader. The derisive laughter at Trump's ridiculous boasting is evidence of our new weakness.
30
Trump unleashing his bombastic ridiculous bragging to the rest of the world resulted in laughter. They know, as many of us know, how ridiculous his claims are. YES the REST OF THE WORLD IS LAUGHING at him.
I would like to make folks aware of something, the US did not always have a stellar track record of paying to the UN. Ted Turner, who started the foundation with a staggering $1-billion pledge in 1997, made his last payment in 2014.To keep the money flowing in the post-Turner era, the foundation wooed others with deep pockets in the corporate world and is on the lookout for leaders made in the mold of the charity’s founder: entrepreneurs equally dedicated to striking it rich and helping improve people’s lot throughout the world.
When Mr. Turner made the pledge, which helped trigger a series of other outsize gifts from the wealthy, he considered bailing out the United States, which was far behind in its dues to the United Nations. Instead, he decided to create a foundation to support the U.N.’s global mission and build public support of the international organization.
Today, The countries that receive the most relief from the US are: Afghanistan, Israel, Egypt and Jordan.
10
I have always thought that to advance as a race, humans, we need to be together as a planet, not one country competing against the other.
After WWII, things were put into place that headed the planets 7 billion humans in something close to the same direction.
Yesterday, listening to Trump insist on nationalism, insist on respect for the USA, is a policy of going backwards towards the nation against nation thing, which will only lead to war....
What a mess
28
As much as I repudiate Trump and his policies, he's not completely wrong on one thing: that neoliberal globalization has been a raw deal for a great many people in this country and abroad, and its defenders have consistently failed to recognize that. We've done precious little as a country to keep jobs from fleeing abroad or to ameliorate globalization's excesses, except the occasional vague promise of "welfare" and "infrastructure" or "retraining" and "education." Nobody wants to live on welfare while working for minimum wage at Walmart, selling goods made in China that they used to make themselves, or have to retrain for constantly disappearing jobs. People want stability and dignity, and when you take those away from them, they flock to demagogues who promise to give them back, even if dishonestly.
This isn't to downplay the key role of racism and xenophobia in Trump's election, but in many districts, globalization - and the bigotry its ravages have inflamed - is the culprit. Trump, Le Pen, Salvini et al are monsters born of bad ideology.
6
@AJD. Automation in its many forms, cloud, compute, software, robotics, and artificial intelligence have changed the landscape of work and placed millions out of work having to retrain. This is the new order in the workplace. It will also create new opportunities but we must change our education system to align with it. A college degree will only fit into a subset of these opportunities.
5
The U.S. opposes social management to constrain or redirect private businesses when it comes to big decisions. There have been exceptions when there are wars, or to promote very important new technologies, or to expand infrastructure, but in the main the markets are left to manage how businesses act. Unfortunately, our mass media does not address how private businesses market driven choices affect how we live.
There are good things about markets and bad things. Markets are good at distributing goods and services but they are terrible when it comes to dealing with any kind of changes to how things are done and to addressing imbalances in power between buyers and sellers like monopolies. Markets punish innovation but they reward monopolists. This means that a business that introduces a popular patented or copyrighted product can charge buyers what they choose and offer stockholders easy money. But when a new technology completes with a profitable old one the new technology is not adopted, even if it is far better than the old. Our loss of industrial dominance since the 1960’s was due to private businesses decisions over which government had no part.
@AJD Is it really the fault of 'globalism' that jobs go abroad etc, or should the blame really go to the corporations that have gained far too much power of late? They have freedom of movement, they have the rights of a human as far as the SC goes, they can influence politicians and elections, they receive generous tax cuts from the gov't, and yet they have very little accountability. Our gov't now is trying to loosen up the little environmental accountability they did have.
1
Trump and his ilk have not lived in a neighborhood with relations and support with and for the neighbors. He does not understand that your neighbors will rush to help them and you will feel compelled to do the same in case of a need. In good times, gatherings will delight all.
A neighborhood is a microcosm of global relations. Some may be noisy, others a bit too reserved, some may not cook the hamburgers to your liking but you all learn to get along. Isolated lives seem to breed isolationist views. In this day an age, America following an isolationist policy will be detrimental to many facets of life, business, the enterprise not to mention that it will be practically impossible to implement. Ask Apple! Or others in the Silicon Valley or in Detroit, New York, ...
12
After listening to Trump's speech, I finally realized that his authoritarian voice is that of the late Ted Baxter. YouTube Ted Baxter of the Mary Tyler Moore show. Maybe we can get Trump to say "And now the news."
11
It's about time! Laughing at bombast, boasting & lies is what it deserves. Let's follow the rest of the world and treat Trump like the lame joke he should be. I will be glad when all his dishonest proclamations get met by a surge of contagious laughter. Maybe that will give pause to the narcissistic tirade he thinks is governance.
21
There is no point in trying to defend the Presidents speech at the UN to liberals who hate everyone and everything that is not on the left. It was refreshing to hear a United States President stand up for America and it's dominate role in the world without apology. Conservative patriots like myself will let the next Democratic President do the Apology Tour 2.0. as CJ suggests. I am sure it will be equally refreshing for liberals to see their President stand before the world with his head bowed, shoulders slumped, and in a quiet apologetic voice say " On behalf of the American people I want to apologize for American greatness. Under my Presidency we will try to lower our standing in the world. Please be patient with us"......Good Luck in 2021.
3
@Fred Sorry. Trump has proved himself to be a narcissist. Narcissism is recognized as a personality disorder characterized by delusions of grandeur and chronic lying. Trump belongs in therapy, not in the White House. As for making America great again....only to people who don't travel much. The rest of the world now regards the U.S. as a joke.
16
@Fred
There's no point in trying to explain our President's extraordinary failings as a man and a "leader" to those who slavishly swallow his every lie. They are simply resistant to reality.
9
@Fred
Words and bragging do not make America Great Again. Actions are the way to make America Greater again. So far, Trump has done his best to destroy America. He has pulled away from the Climate Accord and has rewarded tyrants and insulted Allies. He has made America, once revered as a beacon of what other Nations aspire to, a laughing stock.
On the National front he is trying to de-fund our great institutions, divide us as a country with his trashing those with dark skin, make the division between the 'haves' and the 'have-nots' wider.
i could write a book on all of the damage this man has done to America since taking office; none of which has made America great. Words of bragging do not make it so.
5
Take Trumps's speech, replace every occurrence of the word Iran by Saudi Arabia and see how well it fits; in the process you'll understand why many a Middle Eastern country considers US an unreliable and hypocritical nation.
8
Well - how about refocusing on the few paragraphs NOT about our 'Dear MisLeader' !
Thank you to President Macron for turning the bully's methods on him! Trump will soon be gone - but the climate we destroy will take millennia to heal, save some wonderful inventions that will enable us to stay on this planet. We need to act - and even the more enlightened countries are not doing enough.
In the same line of thought: even if the US sanctions indiscriminately (Iran, Cuba, Venezuela,..) - how dare they strong-arm all others to fall in line? I hope for international loyalty just like the other signatories to the Iran contact are doing. I hope they do not falter.
9
Ironically, Trump urges Europe to isolate Iran, while he isolates America from Europe, the UK, Canada and Mexico. Of course his adherence to Putin, and fervor for Kim are his greatest accomplishments.
If Neville Chamberlain is looking down or is it up - he knows Putin's puppet is on track for peace in our time.
And the dark humor of the downfall of America is not lost on most Nations watching at the UN. However dark, Congressional Republicans still support Russia's mole, notwithstanding empty rhetoric from flakes like Flake, Corker and Collins.
If there is a blue tide in November, maybe these Republican lying demagogues for Putin's mole will then be confronted with the consequences of the word COMPLICIT.
Because "unindicted" is subject to change.
17
The entire world laughed at the President of USA during his narcissistic speech in UN yesterday! Trump have forever destroyed USA's reputation in the world!
11
@Gandalfdenvite: The slavery-based US political system wound up segregating the whole nation in a way that heavily concentrated the most political power in the most xenophobic corners of the country.
3
Is it too early to start preparations for Apology Tour 2.0 in 2021?
8
I wish FDR were alive today so he can write an opinion piece and challenger Trump. He had to deal with a Depression that started when the Republicans controlled the presidency, the senate and the House of Representatives. He also had to deal with a war that started on his watch. Republicans used to invoke "laughing at us" when Obama was in office. Well who's laughing at whom now?
31
Bombastic as ever riding on Obama,s economic turn around. However he is correct on trade we have been cheated by our own former leaders who squandered the chance to balance trade. Mistakes have been made but the old saying is true. United we stand divided we fall. We must work together to build a earth worth fighting for.
11
Curious what motivated the laughter. Perhaps it was nervous laughter, as the US economy under Trump dominates world industrial growth. The UN is the elite of the global elite, so they actually believe what they read in the NYTs is fact and Obama taking credit for the economy. Pigs can fly, according to all the right people.
10
@Mark V It was obvious what motivated the laughter. It was the embarrassment we call the President.
11
@Mark V
I doin 't like the word "domination". It smacks of elitism, disproportionate wealth, privilege and political power. The UN is not the elite. Trump is.
2
@Mark V
What motivated the laughter?
Spontaneous mirth at the absurdity of Trump's claim.
12
He stands there and rails against every friend we have in this world, yet not a word about Russian meddling in our elections. Any Republicans out there who care to comment on that?
63
I can no longer bear the sight nor the sound of this empty drum. What we witnessed at the United Nations was a total display of a cowardly worldview.
What is more, we have allowed this baby-man to prattle on this long on the world stage.
Get the hook.
70
As the world laughs at the 45th POTUS, we are crying at how low we have become. 45 is working tirelessly at diminishing the US’s leadership that established the world order post WWII.
45 does not know what 45 doesn’t know.
This power vacuum will be filled by the wrong and a corrupt leadership.
38
I am not a fan of Donald Trump but I am a patriot and it pained me to witness him being laughed at at the UN during his speech.
I guess it has come to pass - America is a laughingstock on the world stage. The media was full of commentary about how he was "seething" when this occurred. That's not what I saw. Honestly, I thought he handled that embarrassing moment with a great deal of grace.
But the bottom line is that our position as a world leader has taken a terrible hit under his administration. We can regain it though. The November midterms coming up will be a start.
As Trump is fond of ad libbing, we'll see what happens.
17
@Len
was a pleasure to see someone not Trumpian, as I am not, admit Trump's moment of grace at the UN. I despise the man, am sorry he's our president, but also sorry he, our representative to the world, was laughed at. Also glad that, as you said, he handled it with grace.
Give the devil his due, and all that.
2
Grace and decorum aren’t the same thing, and all he displayed upon receiving laughter during his presidential boasting was moderate decorum that masquerades as grace in the face of daily bombast. But he’s not on one of his red hat rallies where they can chant and he can bold face lie.
The self centered-ness is more in command than ever at the UN because the stage is bigger and the audience is clever and grown up - it’s the entire world and none of them voted for him, aside from Russia. Being chill and “acting” diplomatic (i.e. maybe not shoving other leaders out of the way) is the way to be, as well as not ranting at the podium where poets, scholars and peacemakers have spoken.
People from places - you think he could find Bhutan on a map? I’m not so sure how well he’d fare with Where In The World Is Carmen San Diego? For real.
Not grace. Stephen Miller must have just said, chill out while you talk and after that, we’ll go and get some Five Guys!!
2
The sooner we kick out Trump's republican fellow traveling toadies, the sooner he can be blocked and then kicked out and the sooner this happens, the better for us all.
5
Trump is quite laughable in his portrayal of himself. But I find it interesting that even as I despise him I am finding a suspicion of some real merit in some of his uninformed prejudices. I note that Chris Hedges similarly opposes trade deals. I'm anxious to read his book "America, the farewell Tour". And whereas I can understand the fear of just up and leaving Afghanistan, I can also really sense some merit in Trump's desire to get out of there militarily. And what would be an enlightened approach? I fear it might be willingness to put people at risk without intention or threat of military reprisal for losses. I sense that in myself I need to keep track of the need to ALWAYS treat others with respect, Mr Trump included. All of us have merit in some dimension, and all of us are lacking in many dimensions.
6
@Charles all of "us" do not have merit, and Trump's spectacular lack thereof is exemplified by his adherence to Putin and his avalanche of pathetic pathological lies, and total lack of Patriotism.
16
Well, after all, a genuine example for the old saying 'Everyone gets what they deserve.'
I can't help feeling some real schadenfreude...
19
That Trump could make those statements with a straight face in front of a non-rally audience—
Shows the level of mentation we are dealing with.
Then his reaction to the laughter with a laugh and shrug of his own, saying that’s not what I expected but that’s OK don’t believe me, shows that the delusion in his mind is complete.
34
Amazing that Donald Trump would tout his withdrawal from trade deals and international organizations and his recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel as "great achievements." It would seem they would be perceived by our allies and much of the rest of the world as paths to failure.
31
I find it fascinating - and a true reflection of this less than human being- that a man who has business interests all over the world rails against globalism. Perhaps if he divested himself of those interests his stump might have more credibility. Bet that’s not going to happen anytime soon.
VOTE people, before it’s too late. Otherwise I fear the end is near.
43
Based on the success of the speech, Stephen Miller is the next to be fired.
23
@Harpo
If only. (I.e.: If trump's UNGA speech gets stephen miller fired, another 'grand' embarrassment of the U.S.of A. would, at once, yield a much-to-be-appreciated 'triumph.')
3
We can only hope.
5
Even the stereotypically serious and humorless Germans couldn’t contain their laughter.
41
The most bizarre UN speech ever. Trump does not have a clue!
49
Once again, I am deeply humiliated to be an American. If Trump is granted a second term in office, there will be nothing left of our country. If this fool continues to speak for us a nation we are doomed. The GOP is leading us full speed ahead over a cliff. Vote.
55
Is he going to change the name of his Company? Trump international hotels doesn’t sound very “America first.”
23
Were this a speech given by a rich businessman, a bit tipsy on a few martinis at a chamber of commerce luncheon or a gathering of fellow fat cat CEOs, it would have been a great success. A toned down Trump, reading Stephen Miller's Bannon inspired campaign speech, clumsily talking three words at a time not knowing what was coming next in a monotone akin to remedial reading students, was, borrowing his own favorite rant adjective, disgraceful.
54
When I and my friends sensed that Mr. T expected that loud reaction from audience of his reality-show-political rallies of Republican/TeaParty, we giggled. Then we were astonished when some attendees of the U.N. General Assembly showed reactions similar to ours.
Aren’t they expected to be very diplomatic to stay silent and just shake their heads when they wanted to laugh with dismay?
11
@Josh This just proves what was obvious to most of us, except of course, Mr. Trump. Under his administration, we have become the laughing stock of much of the world, allies and adversaries alike. This would be truly funny if it was not so dangerous to the international world order that Mr. Trump has almost single handedly destroyed. Trump’s policies have made many international problems, ranging from global warming to international trade, from elusive peace in the Middle East to human rights even more difficult to resolve. What is even more disturbing than these mostly terrible policies is his self inflated ego, incapable of seeing just what a mess we are in, and his role in creating that perception in other countries. Combined with his often nearly incoherent and often insulting tweets, our constitutionally based democratic republic is in serious danger.
6
The United Nations was formed in October of 1945, just after World War II, to try to build a framework of nations that could avoid similar horrendous conflicts in the future. It was established to foster cooperation, for nations to work together towards peace and prosperity and a better world. It was formed to build an avenue of dialogue instead of conflict.
Donald Trump's speech articulated the opposite of the philosophy of cooperation of the UN. He just doesn't get it. If all nations just try to "go it alone" and protect their borders and denigrate each other and praise authoritarian rulers while they disparage democratically elected allies, the world will head back towards conflicts like World War II.
All I can say is, we only have to suffer through two more addresses from Trump to the UN General Assembly. Then America will elect a new president and we will once again become a beacon of hope and freedom and generosity that we have tried to be since the end of World War II.
30
It was a great speech. Amazingly honest with, thank goodness, no bureaucratic-speak. Trump called it like he sees it, unabashedly advocating for America's interests and that's what he was hired to do.
7
@Sue HaynieCritics said Mr. Trump’s triumphalist tone provoked the derisive reaction. “If you’re boastful, and in the most improbable ways, it’s just becomes outlandish,” said Nicholas Burns, a senior diplomat under President George W. Bush. “It was a sad moment for American leadership.”
27
@Sue Haynie What he, and apparently you, don’t understand is that the world, like it or not, is interdependent. We rise or fall together.
28
@Sue Haynie
Yes, indeed, "hired" and by whom?
2
It is possible and desirable to be both patriotic to one's own country's values and a good neighbor and participant in the rest of the world. Just as one is loyal to one's own family, while, at the same time, participate in and respect our communities. Isolating ourselves, whether it's our country from the rest of the world or our individual familiy from our neighbors and community, we will not succeed.
Sadly, Mr. Trump continues to make us the laughing stock in the rest of the world as evidenced by the polite but obvious laughter his bombastic words generated at the UN yesterday.
50
This is the braggart that 80% Republicans support who has humiliated the United States at every international event. Only Helsinki was worse than this UN scandal. No laughter when Trump denied his own National Security conclusions that Russia waged a cyberattack on our election and praised Putin’s “very strong” claim that it did not happen. Even when Putin admitted that he had wanted Trump to win, and then confirmed that his operatives helped Trump win, Trump just fawned on Putin.
When the world’s leaders laugh out loud at the President of the United States ther should be outrage in the Congress. Instead, Republicans bend their knees to Trump. Everyone of them is disgusting. There are no redeeming characters in the Republican House and Senate.
The world is watching Republicans tear up the Constitution, stealing the Supreme Court seat from Obama, allows Trump to flout the powers and limitations enumerated in the Articles, denying the votes of 3 million Americans and celebrating Russia the nation that stole 140 million profiles of Americans and then attacked them to give the election to Trump, And lie incessantly. The world is watching the accused sexual abuser muscle a fellow accused sex offender into the Supreme Court.
What will it take to end this charade, to wipe his image and lies from our consciousness? Impeachment? Resignation? No. Accountability and jail for abuse of power, obstruction of justice, conspiring with foreign powers to destabilize the United States.
68
When the rest of the world laughs at our President, it should be a wakeup call to all Americans that this man is an embarrassment to this country and we must speak up by taking control away from the GOP in Congress in the upcoming elections since we can't do anything about him until 2020.
53
We in this country are being held hostage by a single man with an ego the size of Alaska. If only the leaders of friendly nations could free us from his grip and shake some sense into us. Donald Trump's GOP sycophants seem to be suffering from Stockholm Syndrome, identifying themselves with their captor and not fellow victims. Many of them supported the "Never Trump" concept before he was president. Then they took the measure of his coattails and decided they could in fact live with this devil, because he was "their" devil. Now he's unleashed himself upon the world and their laughter at his boast was their unvarnished acknowledgement that what he has in fact achieved in unprecedented measure is the ruin of a once-mighty giant.
15
The reality distortion field of Mr. Trump could literally shift the axis of this planet. He has no idea of how ignorant he truly is and how the world has lost faith in the U.S. That people laughed at his delusional belief in his so called "accomplishments," was a true shock to him, but not to anyone else who has a clue which is well, everyone else.
40
Trump in May to US Naval Academy graduates: under his leadership "America has 'regained the respect that we used to have long ago abroad'. Hmmm. Maybe not so much.
37
good point! I don't think being laughed at is a sign of respect.
19
Trump is the Bizarro president. He has made us the laughing stock of the world, something he falsely accused Obama of doing. It's slapped him in the face now yet he has to sit the farce for himself. Sad. For us as a country. He deserves it but we suffer for it. When will the nightmare end?
25
At last year's General Assembly, much of the world still harbored shreds of respect for the old U.S. order. So Donald Trump's black words triggered fear and uncertainty. This year, few hold out hopes of making their peace with his government, with making accommodations or allowances. And the president is a nearly toothless tiger. If an aging but still formidable football player is on the team opposing yours, you are going to adopt tactics that still take him into account. If that player is present but up in the stands, foes are going to shrug and proceed apace.
But what Trump said was in fact true and foreign nations acknowledged it Tuesday. He has indeed done more than any predecessor -- to wreck this country. And they responded with ironic titters to that truth. That is not where this country has ever been. The question is, Can we recapture our old role once this menace is gone or do we remain laughingstock?
22
I had such high hopes for globalism. A world almost without borders, where people and nations cooperated and helped each other in improving the standard of living for all. Unfortunately, it was highjacked by unscrupulous capitalists, or rather capitalism in general, without the guts of politicians to control it, and it turned globalism into a perverted dog-eat-dog world where the rich got richer and the poor got poorer. It decimated the working middle-class here in this country and resulted in a large swath of this country to be known as the Rust Belt.
So once again, Trump, in a bizarro twist of logic is actually correct here. Yes, it pains me to admit that, but the sooner the ruling class wakes up to this economic reality, stops taking and being corrupted by corporate and oligarchic cash, we will continue to get the Trumps.
49
Trade always has been a global enterprise where capitalists run things. Capitalists never hijacked globalism, they have made it happen. They have not hijacked the world order based upon international organizations and cooperation between nations created by the efforts of the U.S., either.
The pressure of national self centeredness which Trump thinks is so revolutionary has always been ready to undo the civility and peaceful relations between nations and produce destructive international relations since World War II.
The relations between nations depend upon how nations choose to have them. But they can turn it all into chaos in a short time if they decide to just let it all descend into the powerful and ruthless preying on the vulnerable and less powerful. That after all has been the normal condition of international affairs for most of human history.
Trump, if he really cared, should go on a listening tour of the US, starting with Oregon. His vision is defective and his knowledge of what is going on in the part of America that is suffering is limited.
But of course, we have a gang in the Executive Office, just as the Russians have a gang in charge of their leadership, and gangs only care about their power, their wealth.
Empathy, the ability to understand the needs and feelings of others is a prime requirement for a leader. What we have is a man, and men (mostly) who have cunning. There is a difference.
Hugh Massengill, Eugene Oregon
21
If Trump could hear the raw sentiments of others, we wouldn't be in this position. Only his own voice penetrates that fog. Sending him on a "listening tour of the U.S." is like asking a blind man to recapture his sight by looking. If the facility doesn't exist, no amount of stimuli will restore it.
13
Another example of his ridiculous ego. Even if it were true why would he think that audience wants to hear him tell them what a great job he is doing? His reaction to the murmur was "not what I expected...". Did he really expect cheers or applause? Does he really think everyone in the room agree he's done a great job as far as they are concerned?
38
He was expecting “lock her up” chants.
That audience was a bit diff from his MAGA followers.
11
He is laughable. And tedious. But terrifying.
That said, I would prefer less attention to Trump's inaccurate bloviated diatribe and more coverage of speeches of other world leaders--plus information about substantive networking beyond the podium and beyond the backward views of Luddites Bolton, Pompeo, and Haley.
25
The phrase “the whole world is laughing at you” has never rung so true.
39
Embarrassing!
24
The US spoke (trump) & the World laughed & continued to laugh & shake their heads in disgust. This was comedic opening act to break the ice of doing serious business. They knew he was lying.
The sad thing is he was expecting loud continuous applause & yelling “bravos”.
what a sad little man! he should have stayed home at trump tower.
What must the World think now!
The World will now move on without the US & they are right in doing so.
29
When will this end? I can't bear to read this stuff much longer. This week I will restrict myself to the Arts and Food sections and the crossword. Its affecting my sleep now.
22
Due to the lack of credible Democratic leaders and Nancy Pelosi not stepping down, it’s going on and on.
1
I have to take frequent sabbaticals from the news. The first one was the morning after Donald Trump's election and lasted several weeks. Thank God periodicals keep publishing, even when all we want to do is look away. I'll no longer need them the day he's taken away in chains, with a life sentence for ruining his country as surely as Syria's Assad has flattened his.
4
My immediate thought, when I heard the boast of, "In less than two years, my administration has accomplished more than almost any administration in the history of our country,", was that the audience was not snickering about how untrue the boast was but how true - his administration has accomplished more DAMAGE to world affairs in less than two year than any other administration in history. That's what they were laughing about, Trump doesn't get it. Dissing our allies, praising our foes, dropping out of the Iran deal, the Paris accord, you name it. So, his boast was correct in a not-so-good way, and the world apparently knows it.
23
"My immediate thought, when I heard the boast...was that the audience was not snickering about how untrue the boast was but how true - his administration has accomplished more DAMAGE to world affairs..."
Precisely. I said the same thing in my own comment. The reaction was to that irony. At least the world recognizes a good joke. Here's hoping Trump takes his comedy act on the road...and never returns.
7
The (mis)behavior of this so-called "president" is, LITERALLY, impossible to conceive!
Take this article's description of Trump's actions at the U.N. General Assembly, in front of the world's diplomats. If you didn't know in advance that it was a news report of an event that actually took place, you would write it off as an over-the-top riff from a grade-D political fiction potboiler. No one could believe that the speaker, that bombastic dunce, was the president of THE United States of America!
Never in a million years would I have thought that this was possible!
Silly me.
43
I’m worried about the fallout from this embarrassment on the world stage. We know the toddler in chief doesn’t react well to criticism.
31
UN world leaders finally acknowledged that "the emperor wears no clothes". Will it sink in to the minds of 45´s base as well?
24
In a word, no.
11
It is hard not to laugh when Trump uses the word democracy and Saudi Arabia in the same sentence.
30
Republicans warned me that if I voted for Hillary Clinton we would have a corrupt, incompetent President who would be the laughing stock of the world.
I voted for her and they were right! We have the most corrupt, ignorant and dangerous president America has ever known. At the U.N. he once again proved that he has richly earned his place on the world stage as an object of ridicule and laughter.
68
If the stated policy of the U.S. is “America First” can someone explain how it is that some 3 million more Americans voted for Clinton yet Trump was given the Presidency? Apparently it may be “America First” but certainly not ‘American Voters First’.
21
Whenever Trump speaks, the world laughs, and true Americans cringe.
74
He's just doing his job. Aren't clowns supposed to make people laugh? Sad but true.
37
@g
Actually whoever coined the phrase "the world loves a clown,"
never met Donald Trump.
24
A shamful display from an American President on the world stage. Utterly embarrassing, to say the
least.
51
They laughed at him and if you look carefully he actually blushed! He didn’t expect it and was genuinely embarrassed. Mr. Trump had no business being our President, one only hopes that he will finally see it and find a way out.
40
@Jgrau
The man can't even find his own behind in the dark ... he's gonna find his way out of the White House?
We voters who foolishly showed him the way in, must now show him the way out!
14
@Edgar Bowen "WE voters"? This voter, as always voted for a party platform, not its candidate; that would be the party whose mission is NOT to distribute as much wealth as possible among as few citizens as possible.
The world is plagued by the eternal dispute between those who imagine the world to suit their policies and those who must adapt their policies to suit the realities of the world.
The United Nations arose from the lessons of prior wars. WW1 taught that an eye for an eye makes the whole world blind, and WW2 taught that a malevolent enterprise could control countries and dominate the world by creating structures of destruction through a policy of divide & conquer.
The UN was proposed in 1942 with a united 26-nation response to the Nazi threat. It is based on the policy of doing good for nations who believe. "United we stand, divided we fall."
The UN podium isn’t a "bully" pulpit; it doesn’t bully.
The UN established world literacy and food programs among others. It is like a meeting house where world leaders come together to share each other's experiences, lessons, aspirations and wisdom. It exists because people prefer to cooperate in a productive world rather than submit to a destructive one that intimidates, coerces, and exploits.
Wisdom is the key distinction of the UN. Wisdom is the choice mechanism that helps us distinguish between good and evil while we keep focused on doing what is good and right.
Despite religions differences, all UN efforts rest on the desire to do "good."
All religions recognize the impulse of that desire and the consequence of good acts and call it "God."
In God we trust. Because God is Good.
8
‘America today is leaderless’ declared one Bush-era diplomat. True enough, but it’s not without its’ stooge.
26
After the first few sentences, I turned off my radio. It was simply too painful.
34
I find it truly scary that Trump genuinely did not expect the reaction to his speech. Exactly how deluded is he? What truly is his mental health? I ask this seriously. And why can’t members the GOP finally act foremost to represent the voices of regular people from their district, not their concerns about reelection, not the very wealthy, not special interests, lobbyists...
26
@Patricia L. Because they're as corrupt as Trump. Power and greed rule the day, and our country pays the price.
16
Because they think the interests of the very wealthy are in our interest.
8
We should regard the world laughing at Trump as a healthy response. Trump is a clown. It is normal to laugh at clowns. The problem lies with the people who take Trump seriously, not the ones who laugh at him.
43
The Moscow Police denied reports that hundreds of people living within a 2 mile radius around the Kremlin had filed complaints of excessive noice during the night. "The claims of loud parties going on within the Kremlin walls are totally untrue. September 25th is not a Public Holiday, so there were no planned festivities. The reported noice of champagne corks popping is fake news since wodka bottles were opened silently".
10
Omg, I watched and thought this couldn’t be happening. But it’s real.
I need a drink.
24
One of the greatest achievements of a US president ever: uniting the United Nation General Assembly.
27
As I watched Trump lay out his vision for the 1950s, I could not help but think you better tell your children to learn Mandarin. For that will be the language of the future, as China assumes leadership of the world economy, world affairs and in military strength, while the U.S. eagerly cedes its authority through Trump's cash-on-delivery view of world diplomacy. His statement that "we believe not in globalism but in patriotism" says it all. The U.S. is descending into the black hole of isolationism. And its president is a joke.
35
So tired of this man, DJT, embarrassing our country. But the worst is that he’s putting all US citizens, young and old, men and women, able and disabled, educated or not, in harms way.
Does he actually believe he’s “accomplished” more than any other president? Many of us can hardly call him “president” and he thinks he’s the best. A horror show.
26
This is the reason why I don't support Sanders. There is little difference between Sanders and Trump with respect to their understanding of the international relationship and the U.S's role in the world. Both Sanders and Trump defended protectionism and objected to globalism. It is also an agenda supported by some shallow leftist people; they seem to have the Soviet's understanding of the world and economy. In order to lessen the rift between rich countries and poor countries in the world, globalism is essential. There is no other way. Trump takes that as a way to weaken the U.S. power. But that is wrong and false. It is totally immoral and theoretically wrong.
8
"But after a year of such bombast, many in the audience at the United Nations treated him almost as a source of levity, not fear."
No one - not citizens of other countries, not citizens of the US - should treat Trump as a source of levity. He is to be feared - it will take decades to undofor the damange he has wrought to the world order and America's reputation and for the damage he will do before he leaves office.
40
The really SAD thing is that the current lack of leadership in the USA gives leverage to countries like China and Russia and it is pretty obvious that they are moving forward their positions as we speak. Trump is only bombastic and I doubt that many take him seriously anymore. He is like an american Berlusconi or Victor Orban, a lot of noise.
The only semi-superpower that can hold against this is currently the EU but it is in many ways crippled by internal disagreement, not only about immigration but also in the fight for the rule of law and freedom of speech. This may not be a US problem in the beginning but it will definitely be in the end.
My daugther is likely to be drafted for military service when she gets 18, general military service was abandoned some 10-15 years ago but we are soon back there again. I definitely see a a lot of dark clouds.
25
No one should enter the military. Their policies and actions harm our country.
4
@Tullymd that is a completely inane comment given that the military does not dictate policy and they act under the direction of the civilian government.
1
That's true. But if no one entered the military government would have less power. And note we lose all wars Korea, Vietnam, Afghanistan, Iraq. Libya a Syria also Yemen a disaster.
I rewrote this post 5 times...all I can say is 'wow'...
27
Classic case of ‘Look Ma, the emperor has no clothes !’
47
Trump shouts Patriotism and Sovereignty, when he means Nationalism and Isolationism. Both are cowardly and defeatist attitudes.
Trump says America won't interfere in other nation's affairs, then he goes on to criticize our allies and praise our enemies for how they manage their affairs.
No wonder the rest of the world is laughing at him. They found out the same things that Rex Tillerson did about this President, the emperor has no clothes.
47
It might be important to know one’s audience on occasions such as these: there is a slight difference between addressing an assembly of world leaders and a group of badly informed sycophants.
89
The United Nations became a segment of the Trump junk reality show. They laugh at him and he can’t be ignored so he’s happy. Americans know he’s insane, the world knows he’s insane. The world know Pence is waiting in the wings rubbing his hands together. But here’s the twist. While countries focus on trade and money, the impact of global warming is accelerating. We are in peril.
33
Re climate change:
We will be washed away as in the days of Noah. We need to reboot. A remnant will survive and we will start over.
4
@Tullymd Where is Bloomington? I've lived in BY for 70 years and I'm not familiar with it. Neither is Wikipedia.
1
Hopefully Trump will not upend international cooperation and foment WWIII. Hopefully, the damage will be limited to the US, which after all, is responsible for him.
19
A very important point, Douglas. The United States is very much responsible for Trump, and what follows. A lot of us know how, but only a few of us know why. And therein lies any chance of the US actually fixing the problem. @Douglas Lowenthal
9
And for Bush who has up till this time done more damage .
2
Trump can boast about his accomplishment at his rallies, and his flock of sheep can applaud and cheer, but at U.N. Assembly, it was a different story. They know who he is and what he has done, and laughed at him. How embarrassing.
63
Mr. Trump has profited from globalism more than most Americans. And he will keep profiting from it because he doesn’t believe a word he is saying. Those were the words of John Bolton, who hates the UN.
Of course they’re laughing at Trump. He is sooooo weak and so blind. He’s the biggest national security threat to this country.
52
Uosetting the world order is a good thing. Well done on scorning globalism.
4
@Paul why all the laughter then? Why did Trump tell several documented lies in his speech then? Why did his face turn red in embarrassment then? There is a difference between making dynamic change and chaos.
7
A little Canadian factoid: Steven Harper. the previous leader of the Canadian conservative party was defeated because of his anti-muslim targeting, he is an end times evangelic, and promoted the same hardline towards Israel as trump ...pro hardline Orthodox Jewry and anti Palestinian. Before one of our Federal elections he came to Vancouver and donated a 1/4 million dollars of taxpayers money to our Jewish community for security...never any attacks and they are very wealthy. Canada is quite secular not like the USA.
11
Globalism, free trade and cooperation..., is the only way to lasting peace on Earth! Nationalism, "we against them", will make future wars inevitable!
Trump clearly wants to have the option to start a war, and now when Moon Jae-in is successfully making peace between North Korea and South Korea Trump desperately needs Iran, Russia's friend, as "the enemy" to be able to start a war as a distraction when the impeachment for treason is inevitable!
Democrats risk losing the midterm election if Moon Jae-in successfully de-nuclearize North Korea!
9
North Korea will never denuclearize. It's inconceivable.
6
We have a Comedian in Chief. SAD.
29
Bad yes. Super bad, yes. Outrageously embarrassing, yes.
But still worse was the NATO Headquarters meeting where Trump shoved the Montenegrin Prime Minister Dusko Marcovic out of his way.
If you don't believe me, look at the video again. THAT is the defining moment of his presidency. This is probably the runner-up.
54
@fast/furious
What about the Heresey in Helsinki? That has to be right up there.
10
I am a proud American. As my husband served in the USAF overseas, he and I both tried hard to not exemplify the "ugly American" stereotype. That is what Trump is, however, and the world knows it when they see it. He is an embarrassment. But I want Americans to know something...Europeans know what they are looking at. They know he is the ugly American, but they also know many if us are not. They are laughing at him, not at America as a whole. They know the difference. Do you?
58
I wish I could still laugh at Donald Trump.
Mainly I just cringe or sigh with fear.
40
"Trump Boasts and Scorns Globalism to Skeptical U.N. Crowd"
And they laughed in his face.
Way to make the US of A respected around the world, Donnie.
29
Why would he spend all of my hard earned wages traveling to the UN assembly just to mock the intent and objectives of the UN assembly? I hope the UN decides to vote the US out entirely. We don't deserve to collaborate.
Donald - please return to your desk and do your job. Life isn't a giant campaign for you.
20
C’mon guys, be fair. Getting laughed at by all the world’s leaders at the UN is a rare honour indeed.
27
Where are his tax returns?
56
I was worried he was going to talk about what happened to Biggie and Tupac.
16
One thing was pointedly absent from the speech: any mention of climate change. This was pointed out by the President of Finland, Sauli Niinistö, and was reported in the morning paper: "This was perhaps the darkest, most discouraging thing in the speech: something that was absent. It was a striking, conspicuous silence".
Mr. Niinistö had other comments on the speech as well, but most of those have been made by other commentators. But I haven't seen a single American comment, from right, left or center, on this "conspicuous silence" on climate change.
34
Trump appeared at the UN General Assembly. And got exactly the reaction and recognition he deserves - laughter. Trump can lie and lie and lie, and people at his carefully controlled rallies cheer. But here in the rest of the world, outside Trumpworld, the response to Trump is laughter. Maybe nervous, somewhat fearful underneath, but laughter. Chew on that one, Trump.
36
The Trumpsters at his rallies might not realize the Emperor has no clothes, but it's pretty obvious to the rest of the world.
55
Comedy aside... As usual, everything that comes out of Trump's mouth is factually wrong. It's not the UN that's unaccountable. It's the US.
The UN has very little actual power so it's not even clear what it's supposed to account for. But the US has a Security Council veto so the US functionally has zero accountability to an organization, co-founded by the US, to enforce international accountability.
10
What reaction, other than laughter, was he expecting? Loud cheers? This total lack of judgment is worrisome.
30
They can laugh while they live in third world states or high unemployment countries like Spain, Italy or France. Jokes on them.
2
@Scott. 38 million Americans are without healthcare coverage. Zero Italian, Spanish, and French citizens are without healthcare coverage. It appears the joke is on us
33
There is plenty of laughter here in Sweden. And we have a standard of living that most Americans can only dream of!
19
@Scott, sometimes laughter is a psychological cover-up for desperation. And most of us here in Europe are desperate having to witness the breakdown of Western unity, due to your incompetent and undignified President, en face of global problems ONLY unity is able to solve.
Confrontation might tactically sometimes lead to success in minor "deals" - but NEVER in forming the strong bounds mankind needs now to survive.
6
Trump did accomplish something in his two years in office. Thanks to his tax cuts, the US is a trillion dollars in debt and spending more paying off interest than it is spending on the military. It's spending more on interest than it is on anything else. Your Social Security benefits will be cut to pay down Trump's debt.
Trump is managing to bankrupt the US just like he bankrupted his businesses.
87
@Linda
Yessirree.
He is an EXPERT in going bankrupt six times.
He managed to do that 4 times running money machines ... er ... casinos. That takes exceptional talent.
27
I'm sure there are analogies of the town bully finally getting his due when all the little folks who've been abused get together and bloody his nose.
30
Trump scorns globalism at the United Nations, one of the crowning achievements of globalism. A nationalist with conviction would have stayed home, but Trump? He can’t resist an opportunity to stroke himself in front of a crowd.
What a pitiful, pitiful man.
46
This fool needs to spend more time before audiences who laugh at him. He might get some insight into how the world beyond his “rallies” views him.
52
Trump's staff hides reality from him. It's about time the world gave Trump a dose of reality.
52
Kim, Netanyahu, and Putin would have given him a standing ovation.
31
@Bruce Stasiuk Yet more "very fine people."
9
You can always tell when El Prez is reading the words of his underlings because he has absolutely no passion and can barely spit out the words. This horrifically tone-deaf speech had all the hallmarks of Stephen Miller or some other Trumpian smurfling -- bloated with lofty nonsense, oblivious to a long-term vision for a peaceful world, and pathetically pandering to the nationalist id. Only occasionally will Trump drop in a comment of his own - "Very bad. Really bad people" - to remind us (and the world) that behind the curtain he is still just a self-aggrandizing reality TV clown.
72
It's amazing be didn't rise to the podium with that Lee Greenwood song blaring like he does at his Nurembergs.
25
Derisive laughter is one antidote.
23
At once childish and malevolent.
21
The laughingstock of the world.
Perhaps of the entire universe.
We have the best laughingstock. The biggest laughingstock.
It might be funny if it weren’t so depressing.
63
Actually, when Trump said "In less than two years, my administration has accomplished more than almost any administration in the history of our country,” he was right for once: He has accomplished more abject disgust with the Presidency, domestically and internationally, than any who came before.
53
@jg I couldn't agree more with you!
8
President Trump has his issues, but the crowd at the General Assembly is right about one thing, he is funny a lot of the time. I laugh at his tweets, the way he reacts to things, and the way he bluntly and sometimes unfortunately engages on issues where our trembling mainstream politicians would fear to tread. If I were him, I would toss out the material from his learned policy advisors, and go with his own material. As long as he doesn't accidently start a war, or cause U.S. progressives to collectively, spontaneously combust, that is.
@David Godinez
This President doesn't make jokes, he is the joke.
Come on Special Counsel ,haven't we suffered enough?
The world is worried about America. I'm worried too. Waking up every morning ,and knowing someone beholden to a foreign adversary is dwelling in our White House is terribly upsetting.
UN General Assembly,some of the world's smartest leaders aren't fooled.This was no joke!
20
At the present ratio of bombast, in a few more years Trump's America will be sanctioning most of the countries in the World.
5
This is only about the third most embarrassing thing he did today. I'm not sure if that's a good or bad thing.
21
It would be nice if Trump took the time to review world history since the peace settlement ending the thirty years war in Europe. He would discover why his attitude towards sovereignty in international affairs led to the two world wars by earlier leaders who shared those same views. He would not be so quick to tear down the world order created by the U.S.
In addition, any experienced world leader knows a lot more about what is going on than anyone appearing on Fox News nor most pundits, and realizes there is even more to know that is beyond their knowledge, so they don’t opine about everything that strikes their fancy. They are careful what they say and don’t say. They are more often listening very carefully. Trump talks and acts like a tourist on vacation in these events.
Any good communicator adapts the message for the audience. Not Trump, he says the same things to people who have worked on foreign affairs for many years as he does to people who never have and tend to find it confusing. That why he received a response which stunned him. They could see that he was making up stuff without considering whether to who he was talking would take it.
19
I'm afraid the laughter could be the laughter of the graveyard. Christopher Dickey of the Daily Beast pointed out on MSNBC that in pushing his America First model for other nations in place of global institutions, trump is promoting exactly the kind of power play among nations that led to WW I.
28
There should be something akin to the five stages of grief that relates to dictatorial domination. First - the shock of what was said, second - the fear of what was said, the third- the reality of actually doing what was said, the fourth - the anxiety from gravitating against the destructiveness of what was said, and hence, the awkward choice of laughter from peers because of a common disdain and respect for a speaker who was not acquainted to the accepted rules of the game. It would be funny but that guy is taking home his nuclear weapons and stew in his insecurities.
13
Not the reaction you expected? Yeah, I guess you forgot that you weren't at a MAGA rally. But don't worry, Bolton and Miller will tell you just what you want to hear. You did greeaaaaat!
39
Trump makes a fool of himself whilst thumbing his nose at the world and praising the dictator of North Korea and his domestic Republican Party grovels at his feet. How wonderful that U.S. Presidents are term limited.
48
wish the term was shorter in this case!
22
@Paul Me too, Paul! I (and not only me here in Europe!) hope so much for the U.S. and the whole world that Trump's term will be cut as soon as possible by some lucky circumstances.. I mean lucky for the U.S. and the whole world!!! I can't and do not want to comprehend how the American People could have voted for such a Person who already has been proven not to be 'that' knowledgeable at all, long time BEFORE becoming President of the United States of America, but not only to me it's more than clear: it wasn't the American People alone to vote for him..! no further specifications...
@Margareth Three million more of us voted for someone else.
“They do not respect their neighbors or borders, or the sovereign rights of nations.”
That’s rich coming from the most glaring offenders regarding respect for neighbours and rights of others. What a flaming hypocrite.
49
@Ross Yes! This is the typical case of projecting his own flaws onto others, psychotherpeutically speaking.
5
meanwhile a Boy's Band from Korea gets more respect.
7
We saw something remarkable today: Trump was visibly embarrassed by the UN General Assembly laughing in reaction to his bombast. I've not seen it before but I won't forget it: The antidote to Trump is derisive laughter. Treat him like the buffoon he would be if only his office weren't so important. I hope to see more of the same: in Congress at the State of the Union address; in Rose Garden signing ceremonies; in announcements of major nominations. Laugh wherever you can.
93
Did he think he was talking to folks at a rally. Trump insults his audience’s intelligence.
36
Laughing...great idea.
Or maybe nodding off.
9
@David J - not many intelligent world leaders in that group.
@Paul I don't think it takes a genius to recognize Trump for what he is!
The word is laughing. We should be ashamed of being represented by someone entirely lacking in morals and competency. This sad excuse for a leader can’t get away with his boasts when surrounded by a normal audience. One of reasonable people not belonging to the the GOP of Fox News sycophant hordes.
24
Another day with Trump as president. Another day embarrassed to be an American.
51
The WORLD is laughing at you!!!
WAKE UP!!
56
President Trump then concluded his remarks by saying, "Thank you very much, everyone. you've been a great audience, and don't forget to tip your security detail."
10
I almost wish I had watched it to see him get laughed at.
BTW this is what I prescribed to do to him during the campaign. He would have imploded had it happened often enough.
17
"..Trump Boasts and Scorns Globalism"
From what I could tell, Trump simply listed the accomplishments that occurred during his tenure: economy growth, low unemployment (especially for minorities), and a trade policy that protects American interests by insisting on reciprocity. Every President has done and would have done the same.
But NYT never accused Obama of boasting. Or scorning. Never criticized his disastrous decisions (letting Assad and Putin cross the red lines). The title of the article makes it clear that the reporter is not even remotely interested in balanced reportage. Sad.
8
Did you read or listen to the speech? People in the room actually laughed when Trump BOASTED how his accomplishments were greater than any in our history.
What are these accomplishments - mostly just undoing things Obama actually accomplished, like TPP, like the Paris Accords, like the Iran Deal, like Obamacare. In each case Trump didn’t accomplish anything ‘better’ in the place of Obama’s work. That would take work - much easier to destroy than build.
No wonder the room full of diplomats laughed at him.
19
@Kai
"accomplishments that occurred during his tenure: economy growth, low unemployment (especially for minorities), and a trade policy that protects American interests by insisting on reciprocity."
JA, JA, JA... because his tenure "only" made that happened.... JA, JA, JA...
1
Trump's "good" economy is based on a tax reduction for the wealthiest that has tripled the national deficit and a shredding of essential environmental protection regulations. We will pay mightily for this folly
The single way to deal with a bully-blowhard is to laugh at him. It was humiliating to see happen to a US president and wonderful to bear witness to. Our president was effectively called a zero by the world's leaders to his face. Too bad they needed to do it in a group for safety. But now the laughter has started, it is virtually impossible to still insist this emperor has clothes.
105
@AG
Yes, it would have been humiliating had it not appeared from his expression and timing that he intended to open his speech by causing some chuckle from the assembly. It couldn't be more obvious, IMO. He did not lead up to the boast, by listing any actual facts. It was a statement without support and with no context. And note that he never listed his accomplishments during the entire speech. I saw his expression and knew he was simply playing with the gallery, tweaking their nose.
Notice how he smiled almost simultaneously with the audience. He knew he would get the laughter. His saying he didn't expect it, with a knowing grin, was his form of Mark Twain humor. Every good speaker knows to start by getting a few laughs.
The only fact worth noting IMO is that nearly all the headlines focused on the 10-second statement and laughter, and ignored the other 99.9% of the hardcore speech. Same holds for most of the comments here, which take pleasure in focusing on and assuming he was not expecting the reaction, when it was apparently the opposite.
2
@Skybird
You are kidding, Right?
5
To paraphrase Jon Lovitz on “Saturday Night Live”, “He . . . he MEANT to be laughed at by the nations of the world. Yeah, that’s the ticket”. He meant to be a laughing stock”.
8
Laughter in response to the lies. Simply delicious.
69
“In less than two years, my administration has accomplished more than almost any administration in the history of our country,”
He is entirely right... he's absolutely legendary... it just happens to be in all the wrong ways. He's certainly going to stick out like a square peg in a history full of round hole presidents and this administration is going to take decades to recover from.
We might not even recover from this.
He's right. He's sure done a lot...
65
Trump properties around the globe,
Trump products made overseas,
Trump resort staff flown in from Eastern Europe,
Trump trademarks in China,
Trump money bankrolled by Russians.
But no globalists here, so just leave US alone!
87
“Sovereign and independent nations are the only vehicle where freedom has ever survived, democracy has ever endured or peace has ever prospered,”
Also they are same type of nations that shown every base instinct of humanity.
This logic is extremely weak but I am not surprised as Trump is not known for thoughtful thinking.
8
@Kevin Niall
Stephen Miller is said to have written the speech. That should tell you all you need to know.
14
What is wrong with the logic?
Are you claiming that freedom and democracy prospers in submissive and dependent nations?
Please share your "thoughtful thinking".
I take issue with the use of the word "leader" in this article.
I know he's appearing at the UN as a (wanna-be) (supposed to be) leader, but yeah, by now the jig is completely up. No leader in that suit.
Which is the actually the most worrisome part. With that crowd reaction, he knows he'll have to 'up his game' to keep attention and eyeballs glued on him, which is all he cares about.
Heaven help us when he decides to implement whatever ghastly plan he thinks will best do that.
21
He will be the leader at U.N. as long as U.S. continues to fund 22% of U.N. budget, more than double of what the next country contributes.
Power of purse.
At least (and hopefully) the rest of the world realizes what a deranged, delusional sick man we have as President. At best they also will abide by his rants and posturing until they know they shouldn't.
17
How symbolic that NYC is protecting Trump by surrounding him with garbage trucks.
63
It amazes me that Trump can stand up and make an utter fool of himself in front of the world’s leaders and walk away with his ego actually inflated.
52
Donald Trump has said many times that the world was laughing at us. Our leaders were stupid was another quote from our president.
Finally after nearly two years Donald Trump has shown us that he can tell the truth.
I doubt that he is happy with this truth.
Yes, Mr Trump now the world laughed at YOU today. This never happened before. Do the world leaders think you are stupid?! I don't think you want to answer that question unless you go back to lying.
20
Imagine... Bolton calling out Iran for 'lying'. That's rich. Our very own 'Liar-in-Chief' has set a new world standard on that one.
34
It is really beyond time for some worldwide pushback against this loudmouthed liar,and the greedy creeps behind him ,busy writing destructive policies. It starts with laughter, maybe. #notmypresident
28
The Republican Congress ought to take note, as should Trump voters, who thought that candidate Trump's horrendous ethics and values could be overlooked. Republicans, the world is laughing at your choice for a leader--an embarrassing clown who represents you.
29
He brings nothing but shame and embarrassment to the United States. An adolescent playing at being an adult. He knows not what he's doing, and knows not how dangerous his ignorance is. If the American populace thinks this cretin is gaining respect and esteem, they are in for a rude awakening. His behavior validates our enemies' worst opinions ; it gives our allies pause to work with us. What the citizens of the U.S. don't get is, Trump IS America in the eyes of the world.
28
He brings nothing but shame and embarrassment to the United States. An adolescent playing at being an adult. He knows not what he's doing, and knows not how dangerous his ignorance is. If the American populace thinks this cretin is gaining respect and esteem, they are in for a rude awakening. His behavior validates our enemies' worst opinions ; it gives our allies pause to work with us. What the citizens of the U.S. don't get is, Trump IS America in the eyes of the world.
5
CNN showed a video montage where Trump declares a version of “The world is laughing at us...”. With two years under his belt, it’s clear that the world is laughing at him
The obtuse speech was apparently written by Steven Miller. Miller’s fascist scent was indeed all over the “patriotism and sovereignty” themed speech. It attached Eastern Europe, once again, and later China. Russia? Not so much.
When the dust settles, we know how Trump’s legacy will end. Steven Miller/ Sheldon Adelson and co. don’t yet have a clue, but it won’t be good. You can’t be victim who capriciously victimizes others and plead victimization back again Hubris is not a virtue.
16
Obama was kind calling that guy a carnival barker. Today does not compare to the Helsinki curtsy, though. More to come. Bet on it.
11
No doubt about it. Few have the skills to be slimy and to be a good orator.
2
It’s about time world leaders started treating this so-called President with the respect he so justly deserves (none). It’s been the Emperor’s New Clothes for far too long. Today was like a breath of fresh air long overdue. Stand up to this bully and watch the tiny little man that he is blubber back to his Fox News echo chamber for some ego soothing alternative facts.
29
Is it really possible that he lives in such a bubble that he doesn't know he's the laughing stock of the world? Can he truly believe that anyone other than his base perceives his empty rhetoric as true? Talk about delusional!
40
@RKD
Fox tells him he marvelous!
5
Did anyone else hear Piper Laurie's voice "They're all going to laugh at you" and shudder at what might come next?
8
I'm an existentially disappointed expat American. I recently returned to the U.S. for a temporary assignment after living in Europe for a number of years. Being back has been incredibly difficult for me. Here in central Michigan I'm filled with a sense of angst, what with U.S. flags plastered on almost anything immovable and the ridiculous talk about how proud people are of their "heritage." I wish I could say to all of you willfully ignorant Americans that you did the right thing and elected a great leader and that you're going to be "great again." Hey, even a mildly weak president would do. But to return to the freak show that exists now in what used to be my home land is worse than a nightmare.
So, be proud of Trump. He has become the new benchmark of what to expect from U.S. leadership in the world. He's your spokesman. He's your salvation! He's looking out for you!
19
@mrfreeze6 Come om down to Detroit; no freak shows in this town.
Right now, trump is running a 1930's Soviet "show trial", allowing no investigations by witnesses, the decision already made that his Supreme Court pick will be ushered in.... no matter what the truth, or the facts. The witness - only one is allowed - will be banished to Siberia (or back to Palo Alto), her reputation destroyed by the trump Toadies, and America will become even more right-wing for the next 50 years.
There are dozens of countries in existence today that saw or partook of Stalin's "show trials", trials that had nothing to do with the facts, trials whose only purpose was to destroy the participants.
There are other countries that studied those show-trials with passion, noting every detail, so they could perfect the shams.
America has now joined those nations.
trump is Stalin.
Putin can recognize that Stalinesque pose, the refusal to allow witnesses, the sham of it all. That's because Putin was one of the brightest students of Stalin that there was.
Yes. trump is laughable, but this week he is not an American.
He, and Grassley, Hatch and all the rest, are simply 1930's Soviet-style thugs.
And I'm not laughing.
32
The President should realize that an address before the UN is not a forum to beat your own drum. After all it's American actions and behavior that will cause us to win or lose allies and admirers. He should realize it's not about him and what he thinks is the great things he has done but instead what America as a whole stands for, that it doesn't flaunt and throw its weight around and is wiling to cooperate and deal fairly with others. I'm afraid he will never get this because he is self centered with the belief he is always the most important person in the room. As he would say "so sad".
13
The laughter at the UN definitely feels like the “Emperor has no clothes” moment.
16
I watched it Live. The whole world of leaders laughed at our President. It was embarrassing, but well earned by Mr. Trump.
55
I do not agree with Emmanuel Macron on many issues. However, I listened to his speech at the United Nations and had to admire his position on multilateralism and the danger for the world of imposing one's will on the basis of being the strongest.
Regardless of who said it, his speech should be seriously and carefully read and studied. ( I am sure English translations will be available online.
27
Trump at the UN ----Fantasy and delusion meet reality. Mr. Trump, you are the joke. You and your staff are turning the shining beacon on the hill into the ridiculous clown car that you see in a Shriners parade.
47
The American experiment was the first Globalisation project. Thirteen Colonies making the the unique decision to band together as a nation rather than individual countries. Since then 37 others have joined that global project ushering unprecedented civilisation and wealth and changing world history and the projection of human civilisation. The world will be a different place today if that historic decision had not been made. It is unthinkable that an American President schooled in American history will condemn global effort to streamline the way we interact with each other.
25
@Eric Sekyere.
Schooled in American history? Donald? Surely, you jest
2
@Eric Sekyere No, globalization began when the European countries, from the late 15th century on, moved their forces around the planet to seize raw materials, land, slave and semi-slave labor in order to grow and accumulate capital.
6
Except this particular American President is schooled only in endless, grasping self-interest.
18
Look at the picture of him there, our dear president. The scowl, the placement of the hands, the body language. A two-bit Mussolini. What a disgrace.
152
Not surprised to see that the primary speech writer on this one is our old friend, resident neo-Nazi, and dangerous ideologue - Stephen Miller. This guy is all Mr. Hyde, and no Dr. Jeckle. He secretly lurks around in the background weaving his nefarious web, flying below the radar of publicity or press coverage. Now that he has extraordinary power he is dangerous to everyone and everything he touches. Ever time I hear his name I picture his cold stony eyes and grim face below a cap with a deaths head insignia on it and a black leather, knee length coat wrapped around his slim figure. A reincarnation of sorts.
Bet he's not a lot of laughs at cocktail parties either.
46
@Gwen Vilen
He also reminds me of a world leader of the past, check out his pictures in 1923...especially when he laughs
10
They are laughing at you Trump, not with you.
79
"My mushroom (cloud) is bigger than your mushroom (cloud)."
19
“OPEC and OPEC nations are, as usual, ripping off the rest of the world, and I don’t like it,” Mr. Trump said. “Nobody should like it.”
Yet he praises Saudi Arabia, a top member of OPEC...
46
@Filemon Elefante
But they let him hold a sword.
5
@Filemon Elefante
He does not know that Saudi Arabia is a member of OPEC...
1
Too bad there wasn't a gong available.
52
Trump was right in claiming that his administration has done more in the last two years than any administration in history. Yes he has done more to destroyed many of the things that were good and honest about the USA than any other President in history.
120
This is awful.
History books will not be kind to Mr. Trump. Let us hope the next President is more sensible and lacks the nationalistic fervor that fuels major conflicts. Other UN members must hold the planet steady while our government corrects course.
64
Have always been fond of this quote from Oscar Wilde:
Patriotism is the virtue of the vicious.
53
To the best of my recollection I can not remember a President of the United States being laughed at during a speech at the United Nations. Although Trump doesn't have a clue why they laughed .... we the people do know why .... and, it's sad.
75
Patriotism is indeed (and always has been) the last refuge of a scoundrel, to quote Doctor Johnson.
For Donald Trump and the GOP, of course, it has become their first port of call.
25
Patriotism is fine when it persuade people to hold their country and their elected officials to high ethical standards. We should be proud of the good things the US and US led institutions and not-for-profits have done. But we should also not allow patriotism to blind us to our country’s faults and problems. What Trump wants for America will in no way make us truly great again, it will simply make us a great global bully once again.
6
@Alexandra Hamilton
Yes. He's no Jimmy Carter.
1
Maybe Trump has decided to attend the next White House Correspondents Dinner and wanted to work on some material to see how it will play for an educated audience.
If only this were true. He only confirmed, again, what many have thought over the last two years. He is a joke.
35
Once someone explains to Trump that the UN was laughing at HIM and not at something funny he said, expect a budget cut at the UN. It is a sad day for our nation that we have elected a president who is a laughingstock around the world. It is a sad commentary on our nation that he is STILL president.
61
The Emperor has no clothes! Steven Miller is a real Svengali!
Our foreign and domestic policy in the hands of Miller and Bolton... frightening!
No one voted for that...
16
@Bruce1253
It was clear he knew he was mocked. Problem is in the circles he walks in, it's a badge of honor when the UN does it. Parochial neighborhood bully.
4
@Bruce1253
I didn't vote for him! I voted for the one that 3,000,000 more votes!
4
I guess President Trump doesn't realize a lot of people depend on Chinese goods that are sold in dollar stores.
15
When Mr.Trump repeatedly stress on 'global bureaucracy' and repeating his slogan,"America First', it appears to me that his speech is an extension of his campaign for the midterm election. Good,Mr.Trump as a business tycoon turned president, he won't miss any platform to turn into his profit of popularity.True,there is no denial on his efforts to
bring the frequent unpredictable 'missile game' of North Korea to a halt and opening an era of friendship between the opposing poles of North and South Korea to attract each other by face to face contact.
On Iran, I am of the opinion that he missed the bus by withdrawal of the nuclear policy formulated by Mr.Obama.
Instead of dismantling the nuclear policy arrived by his predecessor, Mr.Trump could have reinforced it with adequate retrofit. In the age of 'nuclear fusion', it is not a hard stuff for Mr.Trump to work out a new feasible deal with Iran and his advantage is his friendship with Mr.Putin, Israel,
India,UAE and S.Arabia. As a tycoon turned president of USA,
I hope that he won't miss the opportunity to turn the 'trade sanction on Iran into a 'trade agreement'. Could we hope that Mr.Trump's third address in 74the session of the UN General Assembly bring him an added merit for his new deal of 'fusion of friendship' with Iran?. It would automatically generate a thunderous ovation during his next address.
5
I am a globalist because Climate Change requires a global response.
Period.
Any other concerns, whether geopolitical or humanitarian, are minuscule by comparison. A U.S. v.s. Iran war? Fine. Many will die. But nothing compared to the oncoming climate crisis.
We need to maintain a specific focus and not get distracted by day to day political dramas.
40
People just don't see a crisis looming, period. They fail to grasp that these "miniscule, incremental" degrees mean "enormous, massive" losses in food production on all levels. At the end of the day, if you don't have food (or water), you don't have ANYTHING, period. It's as sad as it is frightening. Alas, nature will lay down the [GLOBAL] law, for better or worse. With luck though, people like you and I will escape her judgement.
5
@Charles Towers The ‘globalism’ that certain sectors of both the American right and left are criticizing means much more than mere diplomacy that could result in ‘a global response’. Arguably a global response may be achieved without surrendering national sovereignty to supranational organisations and industry organisations comprising multinational corporations with no democratic oversight and accountability, it may be achievied without neoliberal free trade policies, it may be achieved without rejecting the nation state - heck, it may even be achieved without ‘liberal democracy’. The movement against globalism is not against international cooperation per se, but a specific form of it that requires the weakening of the nation state’s capacity to make independent domestic public policy. This is the common platform of the Steve Bannonite Trump base, Brexit, Orban, and our Democratic Socialists, and it deserves serious public debate.
1
To make such policy at the expense of the global environment? Non starter that.
1
Elect a clown.
Expect laughter.
266
Before Trump America was thought of as a great nation, world leader and a partner to many. Now after two years of ignorant commentary and the behavior of a school yard bully, the next leader will have to “make America great again” through thoughtful actions and diplomacy and also forgiveness. We are so much better than this. It’s a shame that our nations reputation has been so compromised.
60
I wish it was funny.
23
This answers the nagging question about why he continues to campaign for office. Clearly he's lost his marbles and doesn't realize he's a) been elected and b) speaking at the U.N., not at a MAGA rally.
22
Trump can boast and scorn all he likes.
He tried it, and the entire world just laughed at him.
32
Skeptical? That's an understatement. These serious women and men from the international community openly laughed at Trump.
32
And the sad thing is he doesn’t care. He is grandstanding for television ratings on Fox, he doesn’t care what a bunch of foreigners think.@
3
When the next tragic 9/11 or another gratuitous war pumping up defense stocks comes along, don't expect our erstwhile allies to pitch in after Cadet Bone Spurs kicked them to the curb.
17
Just some UN accomplishments:
No WWIII - an international forum that has prevented a world war with nuclear weapons that would end the human race and most life on Earth. The world had gone through WWI, 1914-1918, 9 to 10 million soldiers killed, 8 million civilians dead, 23 million soldiers wounded, war crimes including chemical weapons and genocide. Then WWII, 1939-1945, 50 to 55 million civilians killed, 21 to 25 million military deaths, war crimes including genocide, the Holocaust. The last 20 years are probably the most peaceful (in terms of war deaths as percentage of world population) in human history.
Promoting arms control including for nuclear weapons.
Small pox eradicated (by WHO). Before being eradicated in 1977, 300 to 500 million deaths just in 20th century. Pandemics and epidemics like Ebola, Zika, SARS can only be contained through international cooperation.
Ozone hole and Acid Rain tackled by UN agreements with US leadership. Necessary forum for tackling man-made climate change - the greatest threat to humanity and the world.
UNICEF has saved 100 million children.
UN peacekeeping missions: since 1948, 57 completed; 15 current missions. More successful than US peacekeeping.
There is plenty of valid criticism about and failures by the UN and multilateral organizations. There is definitely reform that is required. But the mindless and fact-deprived attacks on UN and international organizations from Trump and his supporters are truly dangerous for the world.
45
The World laughed at Trump.
The end.
51
It was nervous laughter @Blue in Green, and all the nations of the world, including this one, should be nervous.
6
A failing student's fantasy of a what a good student's speech would sound like, displaying a failing student's total lack of perspective, reliable knowledge, wit, breadth, density, aspirations, creativity, and intellectual energy, and abounding in misconceptions about the world, himself, and life in general. My grandmother would call it dreck--pure, unadulterated, dreck. And this is the same ignoramus who will shape the Supreme Court for years if not decades to come, while he ignores THE issue of our time, the destruction of our environment and the end of organized society, thanks to a population concerned about Hillary's e-mails or her paid lunchtime speeches, or people with brown skin getting an even break, or same sex partners, or too stressed out, or too intelligent, or ideologically pure, or independent, whatever, to vote, and a complicit media too stoned on high ratings and ad dollars to be direct and honest.
33
@Michael Joseph Yes to all you say except that some of the media are doing their job, as hard as they can.
1
@obummer - And just who appointed America the world's policeman? We should give Trump a blue peaked hat and a shiny badge and a toy pop gun and give him a big playroom all to himself except for someone to yell "squirrel" any time Trump looks like he might inadvertently or deliberately hurt somebody. That and Fox News and an endless supply of junk food - maybe he'd never come out. We can only fantasize.
14
Trump's style and braggadocio are admittedly easy to laugh at and lampoon. The actual speech he gave, separate from much of the reporting and highlighted reaction, was more interesting. Nationalistic yes, but not an aggressive nationalism where we assume responsibility for firefighting across the globe. Pro-business, fair trade, respect our sovereignty and we'll respect yours, otherwise leave us alone so we can all make money. This is all fairly standard America Firster stuff. The one additional notion, as others have pointed out, is that instead of seeing international partnerships and agreements as a means of enhancing the United States's stature and influence in the world, the ideology of globalism is instead an unwanted restraint on our sovereignty and progress. This seems a pretty definite break with seventy-odd years of thinking.
3
I, for one, would like deeper insights into the psyche of Stephen Miller.
Trump's lip synced foreign policy comes across as the product of a perfervid freshman.
I still don't understand that business of his running onto the track during a girl's track meet. Perhaps I'm old fashioned, but that strikes me as weird.
9
The crowd size at Trump’s UN Speech was HUGH, and they were all laughing at him. The BBC played a recording and broadcast it out to the rest of us and the crowd who heard it was the biggest crowd EVER!
24
The US President is a monument to moronic behavior, corruption,
greed, unbridled ignorance, bigotry and buffoonery.
The sooner we are rid of this toxic cancer the better for America and the world.
82
@Futbolistaviva
Amen, and again, amen. In addition, as a commenter noted earlier today, the so-called president has the knowledge base of a turnip.
15
Trump bragging about how much his administration has accomplished is a farce, he has accomplished virtually nothing in comparison to any previous administration, that is why people laughed.
Listening to Trump read that written speech was painful, like a grammar school kid trying to read an exercise in a remedial reading class, which will result in a failing grade.
Donald Trump the incompetent Buffoon, who can't even fulfill adequate staffing in most positions, because it's would working in the Trump Whitehouse be a lead weight to anyone's career.
Trump has shown himself to be petty, nasty, tweeting out vitriol that has brought shame and embarrassment to the office of the Presidency.
Trump can't manage anything and has these foolish dog and pony shows that result in nothing other than a photo-op like a reality show, and lies virtually every time he opens his mouth.
17
Our illiterate president addressing the United Nations. What an embarrassment.
73
Scary stuff, spoken by an incompetent, ignorant fool. He got these half baked ideas from a 1985 New York Post op-ed and he hasn’t budged since. Now, thanks to an outdated electoral system, we’re all paying the price.
35
Trump never comes off sounding more like a child pretending to be president than when he tries to sound "Presidential". The laughter from other world leaders was well deserved. The man is a fool.
52
He is disgraceful, an embarrassing buffoon.
He struts on the world stage and reminds any lover of history of the Fascist demagogues of the 1930s.
He has nothing to offer the world, no appreciation of our common humanity and of our need to work together to deal with existential environmental and climate problems and to raise the standard of living and the quality of life for all human beings. He has no vision for a better and freer and more just world.
He is truly an enemy of real universal and democratic ideals. We need to have Presidents elected only by popular vote starting now. How can anybody support this depraved sociopath and have any real Patriotism and belief in the American idea!
51
There is nothing to say except this:
Franklin Delano Roosevelt meant the U.N. to prevent a third world war. It has. That is why it exists.
Donald Trump is one of the greatest political criminals in history but he is a coward. If he meant what he says, he would attempt to withdraw us from the U.N.
Donald Trump is a coward in every way every day of his misbegotten life.
He is a malformed cowardly creature, a twisted soul twisting the soul of mankind.
27
Well...
It has become evident that Germany won WWII with our help. This sophisticated hyper literate hyper scientific country culturally superior in music art and philosophy was taken over by the Right Wing, by the Nazis. The US, Britain and others cleansed Germany of this pathogen and later helped free East Germany by prevailing in the Cold War.
Now Germany is a thriving democracy with a strong economy and is the dominant nation in Europe. Thank you, US and Britain.
And as for the US?? We suffer under a fascist dictatorship.
How's that for irony? And Japan is doing quite well and clearly also a democracy.
Ssomeone should write a book.
16
I'd love to know what comment was made from someone in the audience that made everyone laugh and DJT to respond "so true".
Does anyone know? This man is an embarrassment to this country. What a joke.
12
@Vailgirl
In response to your question, "Does anybody know who he's responding to?" I can't help but assume it's a voice in his head.
14
@DMS
For all our sake, let's not assume that it was a 'for-real' voice in his head. That would be a major psychosis; tho' to be sure, not that it isn't already.
1
The voice in his head is Steve Miller... scary.
1
If Trump gave this speech before a group of (educated) Americans, they would have been laughing hysterically when Trump (l'etat c'est moi - or is that too "globalist?") spoke of respect for the rule of law.
The vast majority of Trump's supporters seem too stupid to get any of this. It's sad, but true.
19
Socialism is not destroying Venezuela. A massively corrupt oligarchy is. The few are raping the many . That is not socialism, but it is eerily similar to what is happening now in the US.
35
Perhaps they should stop saying they’re socialists and pushing programs that are meant to be socialist, then.
For someone who reportedly doesn’t drink, Trump comes off as the quintessential drunk uncle at the family get together.
41
acted bored & is boring
don the con opens his mouth and "removes all doubt"
11
Why do people find it strange that the UN laughs at Trump? I find it ironic that the world's worst political joke gets the giggles.
America aside, the rest of the world has seen this presidency as a bad joke since nomination.
YOUR'E FIRED!
11
Please VOTE. The republicans are as dangerous to those of us that don’t live in the US as they are for you.
25
In a world that desperately needs global cooperation, the leader of one of the most powerful nations on Earth is calling for nationalism, to shut ourselves in, to not work together. Disgusting.
20
As far as I can tell the people who embrace Trump’s rhetoric and reason are the angry, the greedy, the power-hungry, and the ignorant. What kind of alliances is the US going to strengthen with a leader like this? The same den of thieves this man has surrounded himself with?
12
I really hope they were laughing at Trump and not at our country as a whole. Disheartening to think we've become the laughingstock of the world.
12
Trump literally the laughingstock of the world.
That’s how Trump is Making America Great Again and putting America First - the world is laughing at us.
12
The emperor has no clothes. And the world is laughing.
19
Dear world, trump doesn’t speak for the majority of Americans.
20
All I can say is wow. Your country along with the western alliance spent 70 years building international rule based institutions. It took less than two years for Captain Bone Spurs to bring about the beginning of their end. Anyone who says Captain Bone Spurs isn’t in Putin’s pocket needs to give their head a shake.
25
The President of the United States of America was laughed at today in the United Nations.
The fact that he wholly deserved it doesn't make it funny. In fact, the world looses a lot when the USA is not leading, like it has been ever since I was born. I am 71 years old and I earn for the America I learned to admire and love.
9
As is ever the case with Trump it was a mixed bag. Cringe worthy moments where the audience laughed openly at him contrasted with some fair points which were well made contrasted again with some ridiculous assertions that no leader should even contemplate much less say. It must be a challenging time to be an American at the moment.
4
@Mark D
Yes, very challenging. Whiskey helps. And more states voting to legalize weed seems inevitable. Any port in a storm, at this point.
12
Donald needs another dose of rally with his base after that ego deflating response from the United Nations General Assembly.
8
Our next president will have to go on an Apology Tour around the world to let other countries know our collective nightmare is over and we will now be working hard to get back to our regularly scheduled US mission of not insulting the world and looking like buffoons as Trump was fond of doing.
Where will Stephen Miller end up post Trump? He's a loose cannon who we'll never want to hear a dystopian speech written by him again.
America was doing well without Trump and Stephen Miller and their vision is not a shared one by the majority of the country.
16
What a bleak view of the world and the USA’s role in it - the planet’s lone superpower has no responsibility to the advancement of humankind, no duty to the relief of suffering, no vision for a future of cooperation, sustainability, peace. There are no shared resources in this world. There are no shared interests. It is just a planet of isolated countries - all best being nationalistic, competitive, and greedy.
10
German GDP growth went from -7% in 1931 and 1932 to +9 to +11% in each year 1936-1939.
Trump is following Hitler's playbook. We are going broke, building up our military and our economy is booming.
It didn't end well but Hitler liked to brag about it in front of big crowds.
14
While attacking China, President Trump did not explain how the Chinese forced him and his daughter to have their products manufactured in China. Like so many others, he chose to avoid paying American workers a living wage so that he could get rich.
21
"Iran’s leaders sow chaos, death and destruction,” Mr. Trump declared. The Iranian representative in the UN could say exactly the same of the Trump administration. Since Mr. Trump's inauguration, the US has seen chaos on a mass and unprecedented scale. Think the travel ban 1.0, the firing of Mr. Comey, the separation of parents and children at the border, trade wars with China and the EU, the making of near-adversaries with long-time allies, specifically Canada and Germany, and so on. As for death, there have been a few reports of individuals who have committed suicide because the administration's immigration and refugee policy (see https://www.vox.com/2018/6/12/17448778/separated-family-father-suicide-k.... And as for the destruction, companies like Walmart and Target have warned that the trade wars the Trump administration has started may end up having a severe impact on businesses, both small and large. So, if this isn't a case of the pot calling the kettle black, I don't know what is.
6
I'm a bit surprised at the laughter only because that kind of statement from Trump, right down to his choice of words, has been as predictable as the sun coming up in the morning for almost two years.
2
@Salmon
Yes, we have become numb to a white noise background of absurd stupidity. Guess the assembled diplomats at the U.N. have not. Let's call them the uninfected control group that illustrates just how sick America is at the moment.
10
It's disturbing that the US is represented by a man almost devoid of thoughtfulness, consideration, and the ability to present a reasoned case for his own position. If he had those characteristics and abilities, the international community could at least engage him in rational dialog.
Instead, he presents the face of "knee-jerk reaction" and special pleading for poorly-defined interests that seek gains in narrow channels with no concern for The Greater Good.
That's the America that the rest of the world sees now: Stingy, self-serving, fearful, angry, retreating, dismissive, and rational only in the pursuit of its own good and continued supremacy.
12
Patriotism and isolationism as a recipe for peace? Does Mr Trump have any knowledge of history?
Perhaps he would understand this; even the strongest schoolyard bully needs friends because he can’t beat everyone else if they band together against him.
We need allies, Mr Trump, and alienating them may give you a thrill in the moment, but when there is a crisis, even the USA will need help.
6
@Mark Marks’s
Something we did during 9/11, along with other allies. How much help can you expect from Donnie’s new friends?
1
Someday in the not to distant future, artificial intelligence will dictate many of the methods and terms of our existence. Today, at the United Nations, another kind of artificial intelligence was on display. A human being that was artificial and not intelligent. A human being that manufactures truth and reality. One who has duped other humans for so long that you could be forgiven if you thought that he was sincere in his vision for a better world.
5
@William Wintheiser
No. I draw the line there. Anyone who ever thought that "he was sincere in his vision for a better world" simply did not do a modicum of their own thinking, did not assume a modicum of responsibility for their vote. And that is not forgivable.
3
What have we come to when the President of the Unites States is openly laughed at (not with) by world leaders at a session of the UN General Assembly? The shame of it! Cry for our country.
8
I guess he didn't realize he wasn't speaking to his mesmerized crowds at his rallies but to world leaders who have objective thought processes. Of course they laughed and not behind his back. At least he didn't mention the crowd size at the inauguration or the number of electoral college votes he won. Just a few more of these embarrassing moments in on the world stage until 2020. Unfortunately this is the least of the consequences of this administration.
7
Hard to believe that America through it's President has been dragged down to a level where it's openly laughed at by the world's representatives.
All the headlines here and elsewhere around the world aren't about the Kavanaugh hearing, it's all about Trump being laughed at at the UN.
The bar just keeps getting set lower and lower the longer his term goes.
I wish I could vote in November.
6
They Laughed at Trump !!
Com'n People ....this is serious. Get rid of the buffoon before he causes more damage. Trump and his corrupt evil empire are ruining this country.
Has no one the backbone and intellect to realize the world does not end at the oceans shore.
Everyone here (save for a few Native Americans) are immigrants. We are a nation of immigrants. Trump is a vast embarrassment.
Vote...work for your candidate.
5
Unlike the GOP who will help The Laughing Stock of the world put a man of questionable morals on the Court, leaders in the UN so don’t swallow lies, grandiose bragging, and pathetic claims this man spouts forth every time he opens his mouth.
6
Laughed at by the world, yeah that's our Prez.
7
Trump bragging about how much his administration has accomplished is a farce, he has accomplished virtually nothing in comparison to any previous administration, that is why people laughed.
Listening to Trump read that written speech was painful, like a grammar school kid trying to read an exercise in a remedial reading class, which will result in a failing grade.
Donald Trump the incompetent Buffoon, who can't even fulfill adequate staffing in most positions, because it's would working in the Trump Whitehouse be a lead weight to anyone's career. Trump has shown himself to be petty, nasty, tweeting out vitriol that has brought shame and embarrassment to the office of the Presidency. Trump can't manage anything and has these foolish dog and pony shows that result in nothing other than a photo-op like a reality show, and lies virtually every time he opens his mouth.
Donald Trump still trolls in conspiracy websites, retweets lies and conspiracy theories, uses race baiting, racists troupes, and disparages men and woman alike; Trump basically is a National Embarrassment, and an International Joke and Pariah who likes to identify with the most authoritarian leaders in the world.
7
“Unaccountable”? Now that’s the pot
calling the kettle black. What chutzpah.
4
“We will never surrender America’s sovereignty to an unelected, unaccountable global bureaucracy. We reject the ideology of globalism, and we embrace the doctrine of patriotism.” This sounds like a statement from the Third Reich! Surprised Trump did not denounce the Treaty of Versailles, assuming Trump even knows what that was about. It is so embarrassing to be an American with Trump in the W.H.!
8
Review: In Helsinki Trump bowed down to Putin; In N Korea Trump saluted a communist General and at the UN Trump got laughed at. Got it; Trump Foreign Policy is just as terrible as Domestic Policy. Ray Sipe
8
Turnip must take a mirror everywhere he goes and places it on the podium so when he speaks he can recite what he sees in the mirror.
1
Nobody who consorts with Trump comes away with clean hands and reputation intact.
5
Another Trump nail in the coffin to end the Century of Pax America.
3
What an embarrassment for our country to send this morally corrupt man to the UN and tell his false stories.
Fortunately, the world knows not to take this man's words as the words of American people.
6
I'm a little surprised that Trump didn't distribute copies of the 2016 electoral map to the General Assembly and hold up a "Promises Made, Promises Kept" sign during his self-congratulatory idiocy. And no, Trump, they weren't laughing with you — they were laughing at you.
6
I wonder what Trump thought of the laughter that greeted his outlandish boast? The man is such a complete fool which would be fine except he is in the White House.
Too bad but about the last but keep in mind the sign held in front of the White House which read, in part, 'Tick-Tock...'
2
It's never a good sign mr president when the people you are trying to bully are laughing at you.
7
Wonder how Trump spins the U.N. General Assembly laughing at him on twitter.
6
"...unaccountable..." Unlike the Donald, who has so many minions to throw under the bus to account for his deeds.
2
The president’s words were excessive in condemning collective power through central bureaucracies. They lacked the context of the good that has been accomplished as well as the future promise for solving challenges that affect all of humanity, such as global climate change. This presents problems for moderate listeners everywhere.
However, the problem that global #NeverTrumpers have with what he said is that he basically has a case even if he immoderately frames and expresses it.
Apart from Brexit, there are similar signs throughout Europe of disunion and increasing impatience with central bureaucrats dictating policy that profoundly impacts on individual cultures and other national interests; and of the arrogance that imposes the views of elites so certain of the rightness of those views as well as their power to impose them. We see this arrogance of central bureaucracies everywhere on Earth. Trump’s words frame a familiar reality with many global citizens.
It may be that the only way to combat increasingly agglomerative bureaucratic indifference to individualism is to risk tribalism and goitaloneism, by “America First” or other rubrics. However, it may also be that the bellicose resistance so central to Trump’s style can be backed-off to arrive at actionable compromises – another characteristic of his style. But what is clear is that the blithe assumptions of collectivists and bureaucrats are being challenged everywhere, and that the challenges are gaining traction.
@Richard Luettgen
"No man is an island entire of itself; every man
is a piece of the continent, a part of the main;
if a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe
is the less, as well as if a promontory were, as
well as any manner of thy friends or of thine
own were; any man's death diminishes me,
because I am involved in mankind.
And therefore never send to know for whom
the bell tolls; it tolls for thee."
And the same may be said of nations.
7
@Fred
Have you considered a second career writing (lengthy) fortune cookie scripts for the Chinese?
Also, “the world is a fine place, and well worth the fighting for.” Oh, and an injury to one is an injury to all.
E pluribus unum, y’all.
3
Trump gets the laughter he so richly deserves.
18
I have found this creature serving as a kind of preposterous place-holder in our White House to be a schlump, a being who has nothing that impresses other than his tacky tastes and boorish behavior and his total lack of comprehending his duties in the residence of white paint, not white supremacy. But today, his egocentric pathology nailed him and I am now comforted that the world sees him the way I and my friends do: as a laughing stock of false bravado. No interruptions of applause in his address to the General Assembly until he boasts of having accomplished more in short time in office than any previous administration. The audience broke into sustained laughter, forcing him to laugh with them, but you could see he totally couldn't understand why. And that's his failing trait: his total inability to process feedback regradless of its source.
39
“I didn’t expect that” We did!
33
Trump forgot he was not at one of his "daddy needs love rallies." (Quote courtesy of Bill Maher). When Trump leaves the WH he can always get a job performing stand-up comedy.
5
Mr. Trump, what do you mean "[w]e reject globalism and we embrace the doctrine of patriotism."
Was that the royal "we"?
14
Donnie is the laughing stock.
20
Infantile. The fact that he did not expect to be laughed at is the clearest possible indication that he is detached from reality, unable to comprehend that others see through his bluster and his ignorance. Go to the polls in November, America, and vote Democrat.
38
“Did you hear the one about Trumps speech at the UN? Says France to England to Germany, etc.
(laughter erupts all over the world). Is this how you make America great?
17
Seems like he knows what he's talking about when he brings up the term "unaccountable"!
10
(readers, please read through the “kicker” in the last ‘graphs)
Why is a guy who gets his loans (and staff) from Russia, the money to his convicted aides (pleading guilty is self-conviction) through shell corporations in a dozen nations upset about “globalism”?
Why is a man who is trying to put his name on a hotel in half a dozen major cities in the world upset by “globalism”?
Why is a man who wants to fight more foreign wars, continuing our unwinable war in Afghanistan upset by “globalism”?
Oh, now I get it - Venezuela has the only genuine Leninist Communist economy and Stalinist dictatorship left on the planet.
Trump calls that government Socialist, the SAME word being used by some Democrats who really are, almost all, In favor of a few progressive changes, “socialism lite” just in favor of progressive taxation, universal health care, and re-empowering the unions, giving them the same political clout and rights to use their money politically that business owners have.
Comparing Venezuela with the “Democratic Socialists” is like comparing a hydrogen bomb with Tylenol(tm for most popular brand of non-aspirin pain killer)
Hydrogen bombs and Tylenol will both cure a minor headache, but Tylenol lets you get up and go about your business comfortably.
The only good thing about nuclear weapons is that we’ll all go together when we go - 100% equality in death.
4
Fortunately the EU with China and other countries will find a way to work around those unjust and senseless sactions again Iran while building up another mode of pavement outside of the US dollar. Another self goal by our misguided leader.
5
@heinrich zwahlen - good luck to china and europe !
It makes me extremely happy that he was laughed at by the other world leaders. They see right through this clownish figure
20
If Iran is a "corrupt dictatorship", the United States under the control of a corrupt Republican Congress and an equally corrupt president is a corrupt "wannabe" dictatorship.
What tiresome little man. A few more speeches like this and Trump will have guaranteed America's replacement at center stage in global affairs. China can hardly wait and for Putin, hope strings eternal.
14
Trump repeatedly expresses admiration for despots. A statement like this is mean to signal to his low information supporters another xenophobic message.
6
I have seen Trump's speech to the United Nation's General Assembly, replayed many times on the American and international news websites. President Donald J. Trump was so sedated that he could barely string together a cogent phrase from one teleprompter to another, and adjusted to just above the threshold where he wouldn't slur his words. His dead tone bespeaks this clear observation of his mental state.
Americans... are you taking notice? Or, are you equally sedated?
31
The President in his highly nuanced way was just pointing out the terrible opioid problem. He's going to tackle it right after Mexico pays for the wall.
12
Move over George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Adams, Jefferson, the two Roosevelts, Truman and others. You men just couldn't cut the mustard. We had to wait over two hundred years for the Great Leader to arrive. In just under two years according to Trump he has surpassed them all.
Seriously, it is time to employ the 25th Amendment against this presidential quack. With Trump remaining president, the damage done will just increase and make the world a less safe place to live.
21
There was one message in Mr Trump's speech that I thought merited even more attention than the laughter of the General Assembly.
Mr Trump stated that all people had their own cultures, their own national interests and that their nations had their own spheres of interest. "Spheres of interest" are my words, but I was struck by what I thought was his intent. He further went on to state that (under his watch) America would respect those interests and not inflict American values on those countries. He only wanted others to respect America, strike fair deals with America and run their own countries according to their own rules.
The rest of the speech was "America First" and specific shots fired at those who tried to take advantage of American good will; eg, Chinese exploitation of the WTO through its cheating and intellectual property theft (valid and real), "unnamed allies" who wouldn't pay for their own defense yet at the same time wouldn't respect American economic interests. And, of course, specific damnation of Iran for using the increased flow of money due to relaxed sanctions to fund terrorism; well, no more Mr Nice Guy.
But it was the implication that countries had their own spheres of interest that caught my attention. Especially since later in the speech he brought up the Monroe Doctrine.
I wonder how Mr Putin may have internalized that one wrt Ukraine and the Baltics?
Or how Mr Xi may have internalized it wrt the South China Sea?
Interesting times.
5
It's amazing that in the UK, according to about 550 comments so far in "The Daily Telegraph," a leading newspaper, the comments are about 4 to 1 who are positive and very complimentary about his speech, and Trump himself! Which seems about the opposite of the NYT's comments here, which are about 4 to 1 negative.
Yet less than three months ago he visited the UK and was snubbed by most of its political leaders. Their streets were filled with protesters, and some groups actually created a blimp-sized balloon to show their disfavor. They wouldn't even let him enjoy a round of golf on his golf course.
But reading many of their opinions today, with strongly worded appreciation of his speech, is truly mind-blowing!
1
@Skybird I am guessing that his message resonated with pro-Brexit Brits and that they were feeling supported by Pres. Trump's rhetoric and what it represents to him and to them.
3
That is because The Daily Telegraph - like its readers - is a conervative, centre-right newspaper. See also Wikipedia. Even the Daily Mail (Murdoch Paper) has, despite being converative, often negative reviews by its readers when it comes to President Trump - which I find quite surprising.
4
@Skybird
WOW! If people in the UK would like to have trump for awhile (...ahem...forever..) I think a deal could be worked out.
America first means peace and prosperity... As the world's policeman, it is important to let the worlds miscreants know that the days of appeasement are over... and that you are either an ally or pay the price of anti American policies and actions.
The president has given clarity and direction.... making America Great gives the world hope.
1
I watched a few minutes of Trump’s speech. Talk about low energy, with his head swiveling regularly to read slowly from alternate TelePrompTers. Trump can’t give a speech: his only talent is in piecing together random applause lines and changing the subject to red meat when the audience interest flags. At any other time he’d just switch to talking about Crooked Hillary or the NFL, but at the U.N. he didn’t have access to his usual tripe.
18
In my opinion this is not the best reporting. "Trump, at U.N., Scorns ‘Unaccountable Global Bureaucracy’" and the ensuing NYT discussion has almost no news content. Everyone knows Trump's talking points.
The news is: UN audience laughs at Trump's self promotion.
21
“Unelected and unaccountable”. Just like this entire administration .
13
Donald brags about how proud he is for what HE has done to resolve the nuclear situation in North Korea, although nothing solid has occurred, and will not occur, until Kim and Trump get rid of their A Bombs. We're not sure how many such bombs Kim has (thirty, twenty, forty, more?, less?,), but we know that we have at least SEVEN HUNDRED A bombs, any 30 of which would make most of our world uninhabitable. Any 50 would most likely make the whole world totally uninhabitable.
And the approximately 2000 or more A bombs in the whole world is itself a disgraceful testament to how little countries work with each other, and how little Trump is doing to bring the world together to solve serious problems. He's not capable of doing so. We need someone in the White House who can actually work with other world leaders, but Donald doesn't seem to be able to think of anyone but himself.
Donald is ACTUALLY incapable of thinking beyond himself and, perhaps, his family members. This puts the rest of us, our children, friends, and the world in danger. We need a president who thinks, not only of his little orbit, but the whole world. Trump just doesn't cut it.
8
700? Try about 4000 in the US stockpile.
Trump is the embodiment of the ugly American. Might makes right. My way or the highway. International institutions and law, which were organized by the US after WW II for its security and economic benefits, are now just hindrance to a very narrow and dangerous view of sovereignty and nationalism. With hundred of military bases around the world, the most powerful military and thousand of nuclear weapons, the US will now freely throw its weigh around and dare the world to criticize or respond to its actions. Instability has risen and the world is now entering a dangerous stage.
12
Each day, we see Trump do or say something that is so totally embarrassing that we can't believe it. Then the next day, he does something worse. If he was totally mute and thumbless, he might have a chance of being an Ok President, but unfortunately he opens his mouth or operates his phone with his thumbs and takes away all chance of leaving any legacy other than disaster.
8
Doesn´t Trump know that America is not a country. that it has no seat at the UN. When speaking in the UN he should be a citizen of the US. Not America. Jamaica is as American as the US. So is Cuba and Venezuela. In fact Columbus never put a foot on the North American Continent.
Apart from that, one will start wondering why is the UN in a country that does´t believe in international diplomacy. i.e. the ICC. The exceptionalism of the US should move to the moon.
1
There was an earthquake today reported in America. It coincided with Trumps speech. Specifically during comments on how great he is. It was eerily centered around cemeteries presidents were buried in.
6
Another embarrassing moment to be an American and many more undoubtedly to come before 2020.
10
Of course Trump didn't expect laughter in response to his lie about his accomplishments, because he otherwise only talks to groups who buy into his lies and hypocrisy. If he spoke to people in his home town, state, region, instead of selected already-confirmed believers, he would find that there are, in fact, more people who voted against him than for him, and they don't accept his distortions.
13
This speech is scary madness. It reminds me of Trump's inaugural speech which had the same cynical darkness. The Bannon Miller connection.
13
What a stupid speech, full of arrogance, talking about the importance of sovereignty for all countries...while interfering with many of them when practicing their way if different from U.S.'s. This is not a sign of strength, weakness instead, and isolationism in an interconnected world demanding cooperation and solidarity.
11
Dear World,
Sorry about our president. He's a sickening embarrassment to most of us. Please bear with us.
Signed, Millions of Americans
#vote #impeach
29
The League of Nations perhaps was too early. But WWII was sufficient evidence that another try had to be better than not trying. So the UN was born and has aided in many conflicts that have occurred since 1945.
We as a species have to evolve or we'll destroy the only habitable place for the billions of us to follow. That evolution has to occur in the ways we deal with one another and the ways we use the finite resources available.
The current leadership has not even recognized the scope of the task. It needs to be replaced at the earliest opportunity.
November 8 is not too early.
7
Why doesn't he just cut to the chase and tell the world he wants out of the UN? If there was a way that he could do it without going through Congress, he would. If he ever bothered to read (which he won't), he would have a starkly different view of the UN. Of course, it isn't perfect, but when it comes to proposing suggestions to make it better, it is just like everything else for him. He's stuck for answer.
5
Mr.Trump again treated everyone to his usual "I am the greatest" boasting and treating every assemblage as an opportunity for a campaign rally. Countries who are struggling and trying to deal with massive number of refugees and trying to rebuild after years of war take no comfort in Trump's words about how well the U.S. is doing.The United States used to be a unifying force in the world.We used to be part of solutions to the world's problems.Now Trump is creating problems and blaming everyone else for them.
17
Its interesting to read the comments on this article and compare them to the articles that have appeared in the NY Times this past week.
The French have given up on Macron, countries like Germany and Sweden are rejecting globalism, the Danes are requiring children to spend time away from their families to assimilate.
Not to mention the article on China's influence in New Zealand and other countries in the Belt and Road Initiative to influence foreign politics.
Is Trump really an outlier? The world has hit a tipping point from reading the other sections of the paper.
The comments here appear to be domestic and not taking into account the news from the rest of the world.
5
Really? Because here’s a little sumpin from the front page of today’s “Le monde,” loosely translated.
“Donald Trump...began his speech at the United Nations on the 25the of September by bragging yet again about his great achievements, comparable to ‘almost no others’ in the past. A laugh ran around the chamber, which forced the President of the United States of America to interrupt himself.”
4
China is just doing what the United States has done, and was doing until your insane insolationalist president came into office. The Chinese are filling the void that Trump has created.
1
"We reject the ideology of globalism, and we embrace the doctrine of patriotism.”
Says the man who manufactures his Trump brand products overseas, and who dodged the draft when others his age did their duty and served honorably.
100
How long ago did trump say that the world was laughing at Obama, but that was just his own thoughts, no proof. But today during a speech to the UN Council he as usual reached around to pat himself on his back, by claiming during the first two years of his administration he has gotten more done than anyone before him. Those in the audience laughed at him. He might have wanted to believe the world laughed at Obama, but guess what we have proof the world laughed at trump today.
42
"When he declared that his administration had “accomplished more than almost any administration in the history of our country,” the audience broke out into murmurs and laughter."
I can't help but see the irony here. Trump has been saying that Obama made America the 'laughing stock" of the world. Yet, I have never heard the world laugh, until now, while Trump is president.
26
@bob karp That 'world' you refer is composed of the same Leftwing globalists known as the Democrat party in this country who run the Social Democrat govt's of Germany, Sweden, Belgium,Netherlands etc. All of whom are losing power to the Conservative parties in their countries. Also part of that 'world' are the many tinpot dictators and tyrants who make up the bulk of the current UN. Some of them may have smirked but if you watched Trump's speech you know the Iranians were definitely not laughing when Trump tore into them.They were glum and very downcast looking. So don't get too carried away by the Trump hating media's typical spin on all things Donald. It's symptomatic of their chronic case of Trump Derangement Syndrome..
@mark You seem to be just as blind as you accuse everyone else to be. The "tinpot dictators" are the ones that Trump admires. "Leftwing globalists" managed fine until some people stopped appreciating what they got and found the sollution in stop sharing. The rightwing "conservatives" are adapting their goals with a softer language to attract more followers and it works. And the reference to "Trump Derengement Syndrom", you have it bad! Trump isn't the savior you want him to be!
1
What a sublime moment on the world stage, the president who keeps saying the world is laughing at us sees that they’re not laughing at us, they’re laughing at him.
25
' an openness to radical shifts' - Or, more probably, having no firm policy, ideology, understanding of the complexity, Trump just opens his mouth and wings it? Is he a Bolton Americanist? Is Bolton, as Jack Goldsmith has suggested, the intellectual basis for Trump's current (of the moment) foreign policy? Sure. Let's pretend Trump has an intellectual basis for being nice to Putin & his cadre of pals.( Apart from the bogey men with hundreds of millions of laundry ready rubles to keep Trump's Brand strong in Russia and China.) John Bolton wants a war in Iran? Didn't have enough fun bombing Iraq? Didn't see enough civilian blood and body parts for a life-time? Bad things happen when people don't become educated enough to cast informed votes. Then there's Bret.
4
Trump, "little mock it man". Kim is playing him and the world laughs at him.
20
Characterizing Trump's foreign policy as anti-globalism is a mistake. He is very much a globalist. But his vision is to reorganize America's position as the single global super-power, not to change it.
Despite being characterized as a nationalist and isolationist, Trump is simply repositioning the US. America will retain military and financial preeminence, only now with no limitations imposed by treaty or trade agreements.
On trade, it's all bilateral rather than multiparty. NAFTA is a slight exception, but not by much. On NATO, Trump understandably criticizes NATO's tendency to support American wars, but not want to pay for them.
On Iran, Trump is taking his marching orders from Jerusalem and Ryad. Both of whom discovered how easy it is to massage Trump's ego to pursue their own agendas, even though neither is in line with US interests.
"America first" remains more a campaign slogan for domestic audiences than any real shift in foreign policy.
All of America's wars continue. All the over-seas bases remain and the occupation of parts of Syria continue. Trump's attack on Venezuela is a continuation of both Bush and Obama policies, both of whom supported aborted coup attempts.
His announced friends in the world, India, Saudi Arabia, Israel and Poland are all led by right-wing governments. Given the rightward shift in the US, none of this is surprising.
And none of it bodes well for the masses of the American people or their counterparts in other countries.
15
Positive change is effectuated when a process of respectful discourse is followed that honors and explores the views of all parties.
At the United Nations Assembly, President Trump comprehensively addressed the state of geopolitics and global socio-economics, calling for peace and a spirit of unity going forward. But he made it clear the United States can no longer allow itself to be exploited and taken advantage of both economically and militarily, as has occurred over the last 27 years.
Realistically, globalism, if it can be achieved at all, is not possible for nations unwilling to give up their customs, cultures and sovereignty. But Trump made it clear that nations of the world can still come together in peace and unity, and mutually beneficial partnerships can be formed or updated.
The initial steps of President Trump’s administration—only two years in—have been taken to implement a series of corrections to bad policies that have put the United States at a disadvantage around the world. He is clearly offering an interim approach as the measures of these corrections take hold, even as the world enters a new phase of self-discovery for the identification of common values and goals.
3
@GDeLuca
I appreciate your tone. But I'm rather mystified by 2 of your comments.
"United States can no longer allow itself to be exploited and taken advantage of both economically and militarily" since circa 1991. Did the rules suddenly change then? Didn't the US create the situation? Unfortunately I believe US businesses were the exploiters and they still are gaming the system which is different from saying that other countries changed the rules to their benefit.
I didn't realize that globalism also required nations "to give up their customs, cultures and sovereignty." I believe you're talking about an extreme version of globalism that is not generally accepted by those who are deploring the current trend of nationalism. There are shades to globalism.
13
Seriously? The United States, the most powerful, richest, economically and militarily dominant nation to ever exist on the face of the earth, is being taken advantage of?
9
Sure Shelley,
1991 was when the Soviet Union collapsed and the U.S. became the sole global superpower fueling the rise of globalization.
Yes, you make the good point that U.S. corporations benefited from the rise as the U.S. workforce suffered.
But I believe the loosely managed IMF enticed massive corruption in the third world (think Southeast Asia) and the eastern bloc, and especially Russia.
I believe that a better defined and well managed version of globalization emerge eventually, which is the context of my post. I believe that Trumps work is forming the building blocks for that to happen. But he only has six plus more years, at most, and it remains to be seen how the U.S. will evolve politically in the meantime.
Thank you for your reply.
GD
A horrible small-minded representative of the Disunited States of America.
126
'After listening to Trump's UN speech I found myself wondering about world government and national sovereignty. Isn't some form of world government at least an implicit notion in the UN? The UN was founded after two world wars and coexisted with the long cold war between two nuclear armed nations , plus many local hot wars. Modern communications and transportation, technology in general , all work to make the world a smaller place. Will such a world be safe with a philosophy that encourages nation states to hug their individual sovereignty --stressing competition over cooperation?
21
@achilles13
The flaw in that, and in the entire premise of the UN, however, is that it presupposes truly accepted universal values and recognition of certain human rights. Technically member states pledge to adhere to the UN’s Universals Declaration of Human Rights, but we all know that many member states are dictatorships, communist, theocratic, brutally repressive of women, gays, other religions, etc. It’s fine to want all nations to cooperate at least to the extent that at least aggressive war is prevented, but a good number of members simply do not share fundamental ideals of freedom, democracy, etc., and thus are not to have a say in global governance.
2
@George S
That's the very reason why we work towards the common goals of the UN, instead of giving up and pouting it's too hard. If the US were truly the world leader, we must do that just - lead the world by example, not by closing up in isolation.
2
@George S
It would be difficult indeed to deal with the divergent value systems. But the United States itself grew out of a group of colonies who had some fundamental differences that took decades and a civil war to resolve. Of course the perceived outside threat at the time--the Revolutionary War with England was a great motivation to suppress differences. Perhaps that is the problem now--insufficient perceived motivation. So we see our differences and not our common humanity.
1
"On Iran, Mr. Trump called for a worldwide coalition to isolate it."
... right after he denounced globalism. Based on the Assembly's reaction I'd say the only worldwide coalition Trump will form will be a coalition of the laughing.
135
...and to add to your incisive comment, Trump says he believes in the mission and potential of The United Nations, at the same time that he rejects globalism. Mr. Trump seems to be blind to the fact that the word “United” is part of the name of this institution.
1
Trump is not known for thinking things through - as this leaden UN performance of his 'America First' - anti-globalization speech is testimony to. In times long gone, Trump's approach would have been called 'isolationist' - the difference being it now extends to exclusion of minorities, people of color and of religious and cultural differences. Under Trump, it requires no great leap to assume America prefers the company of white Christians who pay fealty to him. Unbelievable. As for his anti-global stance does that mean an end to quid-pro-quo foreign trade agreements? No more Saudi oil? Chinese imports? European automobiles? Canadian lumber? French wine...etc? It's hard to swallow his 'Neither a borrower nor a lender be' approach to economics when he embraces both - personally, in his multiple failed businesses and now as policy for the USA. Who does he think he's kidding? Is it any wonder the UN delegates laughed at him.
57
@Tom Storm: "Trump is not known for thinking things through..."
Let me fix that. Trump is not known for thinking, period.
As for how leaden the speech was, that's what happens when a white nationalist ideologue like Miller writes speeches for an inarticulate and narcissistic buffoon like Trump.
2
Such an obvious hypocrisy from a man who considers himself unaccountable to anyone or anything, and a country that considers itself more and more unaccountable to the world. But, his supporters dont' see it regarding him and many Americans don't see it regarding the country.
21
@Me
The MAJORITY of Americans didn't vote for Donald Trump--that's why we hold this country accountable to everyone and everything...including ourselves.
3
“OPEC and OPEC nations are, as usual, ripping off the rest of the world, and I don’t like it,” Mr. Trump said. “Nobody should like it.”
Oh, yes, American companies have been very altruistic throughout history.
53
@Rocky - Also, isn't oil traded on the global market, and doesn't Saudi Arabia turn on the spigot whenever we ask? Oh, and don't we have our own oil that, if the price goes up, generates jobs and profits for the US? Well, other than that, he has a good point.
1
@Rocky Indeed, and we thought Trump was a tough-minded, profit-seeking businessman -- just like the folks that run OPEC.
@Rocky: Trump and Putin want to sell all the oil the planet can take.
To begin with, the concept of "America First" has nothing to do with foreign policy -- in fact, it's the very antithesis of it. But there's no way you can tell that to Donald Trump, who continues to mistake his populist brand of nationalism for "patriotism".
And of course while tooting his own horn before a captive world audience at the UN General Assembly, he has managed to sidestep the sheer chaos he and his administration has thrown this country into by diminishing our reputation as a free and democratic society, and alienating our allies through tweeted insults.
It's also amazing how a U.S. President who is so enthralled by every strongman dictator on the planet, should consider his own achievements a success while railing against the "unaccountable global bureaucracy" that he himself is part of, because that's what happens when you continuously hold yourself above the law like he does.
So when all is said and done, the global community doesn't really need the General Assembly to know what this country thinks of them since Donald Trump has already given them more than enough evidence to figure that out for themselves.
Now it's just up to America to figure that out as well.
245
@N. Smith- Well, there was some truth in Trump's statement with this correction: “In less than two years, my administration has accomplished more (for Russia) than almost any administration in the history of our country."
When he declared that his administration had “accomplished more than almost any administration in the history of our country,” the audience broke out into murmurs and laughter.
"*That* is why I won't do two shows a night anymore, I won't." (Beetlejuice, 1988)
At this point, the American people with respect to the rest of the world, is like driving down the highway and passing a dirty old van, with a kid holding up a scrawled sign to the window that says, "Help me"
25
Good diplomats are highly trained in the skills of being (ahem) “diplomatic,” whatever the situation. However, how could anyone blame them for throwing their diplomatic reserve to the winds and laughing out loud when faced with the iudicrous self-aggrandizing pomposity of Donald Trump.
How on earth did Nikki Haley keep a straight face?! A lot of practice I guess.
49
The most pleasant, skilled, well-spoken diplomats I ever met was Russia’s late UN ambassador Vitaly Churkin.
I met him when he was first posted to the US as bottom-rung PR man for the USSR, at a student-sponsored debate between representatives of that nation and the US, during the last years of the Reagan Administration, held at a very small New Jersey state college.
I was a reporter for a local daily at the time.
The US Department of state sent a cold-warrior who met Churkin’s charm and whit with a constant refrain of “all they stand for is godless atheistic Communism”.
Churkin was the first Soviet representative I ever heard denouncing excesses and abuses of the pre-Glastnost era.
He made it to the top Russian diplomatic post before an untimely death.
We simply replaced State Department representatives with better people until we elected a guy echoing those insane Deep Cold War nonsense as President.
Well, actually the electors did. Despite spending millions of deficit dollars trying to prove he actually won the popular vote, Donald Trump, international punch line, lost to a skilled diplomat feared by Russia’s dictator by @3 million votes.
By the way, how does America First work when we have no markets for OUR products any more?
4
@Susan She's hitched her wagon.
1
@Eatoin Shrdlu
Thank you for your thought provoking comment and mentioning the well honed diplomatic skills we lost in Hilary Clinton. Ever since his election Donald Trump has treated our diplomatic corps very shabbily despite the vital role they play in promoting our interests across the globe. One skillful dedicated diplomat is worth more than a hundred of Trump’s “money men.”
....the audience broke out into murmurs and laughter.
I wish he would give us something to laugh about.
17
If he wants to talk about human tragedy why not include Syrian refugees denied entry to the USA? How about putting pressure on his new best friends the saudis to allow food and other humanitarian aid to Yemen. That would be a good start.
20
Leaders of other countries are well aware that U.S. presidents are temporary. Like many of us Americans, they are biding their time until Mr. Trump is replaced by a competent president. His unintentional comic relief further cemented international opinion that this president is out of his league.
29
Unaccountable? That's rich! Imagine a world of Trumpian Dreams, no limits on anyone or anything, truly Hell on Earth. The only controls we have however imperfect are these bureaucrats.
7
“Mr. Trump’s 34-minute address drew a mostly stone-faced response.” And also some laughter. Well, that’s pretty much what you would expect if the leader of the most powerful country in history goes in front of the leaders of the rest of the world’s 200 countries and tells them he rejects the idea that all our nations should work together and instead he delivers the news that the U.S. is going it alone.
For starters, what an embarrassment for our country. But beyond that, if in fact this is the direction our country is to be going, what a colossal error. This “direction” couldn’t be worse, not just for our country but also for the planet—which, the last time I checked, we were still residents of. I’m sure this may play well for the President’s audience of grouchy old white guy* true believers out at the county fairgrounds. But hopefully most remaining Americans will see this as one more Trump disaster, and this will help us reaffirm our resolve to get rid of this guy and get our country back on a righteous course.
We may not be able to do that until 2020, but in the meantime in this year’s midterm elections I believe we’ll be taking out our wrath on any Republican running for any position from dogcatcher on up. Seems a little unfair, but hey, these guys have been afraid to renounce Trump out of fear of losing their lousy little jobs—and now, ironically, that failure will hopefully cause many of them to lose those lousy little jobs.
(* I’m a grouchy old white guy myself.)
58
When the representatives of the whole world brakes down in laughter in front of your president after his self-aggrandizing words you know you have a problem, America. Nobody respects him - how will you have any authority in global negotiations? On the one hand you are still the most powerful nation on Earth, on the other hand the man sitting in the highest office is someone nobody takes seriously or at his words.
22
The most unaccountable, immoral President in history can't lecture anyone about responsibility.
39
My step-son served several tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan as a Green Beret.......and the UN just laughed at Trump and the United States.
This is what he risked his life for? For people to elect someone President who the world laughs at?
My father volunteered for the Army Air Corps the day after Pearl Harbor. I miss him terribly, and can't expect him to be alive today (he'd be 97). But I am glad he never had to see what has become of the country that he, along with hundreds of thousands of others, volunteered to die for.
67
@Dan Why did your step-son volunteer to serve and support illegitimate wars? Patriotism begins with right decisions. Not blind obediance to the war machine.
@Jake News
A war's legitimacy is determined by citizens. Our leaders voted to send us to war. What you are saying is akin to saying McCain is not a hero because Vietnam was not a legitimate war.
......and thank you for the slam on someone who was brave and, given the information he had, was willing to die so you would be free to slam him.
@Dan
"A war's legitimacy is determined by citizens."
Not in the US. Another assumption on your part.
My freedom has nothing to do with someone's death wish.
The UN recognizes a fool and laughs at him, America is silent. The reason America is silent is that we would have to do something about this fool, and so far, we are unwilling to do so. Like so many things in our country, Trump, the Catholic Church, Gun Control, we recognize there is a problem, but we duck our heads, mutter something intelligible, and pretend we do not see. Well. . . .since we are unwilling to shoulder our responsibility. . . . Carry On.
471
@Bruce1253 Trump while attacking our FBI, CIA, and Attorney General shows respect and supports our enemy Russia. At the same time the Republican Party is trying to ram a nominee for the SCOTUS down our throats without allowing us to look into his past. Now there have been two to three allegations of sexual misconduct in Kavanaugh's past and they still want to cover it up. Do we even have a Democracy anymore?
1
We're trying, Bruce.
I've marched in Washington DC...and here in St Louis.
I've written post cards encouraging people to vote until my fingers are stiff.
I'm a retiree who is donating (granted, not large amounts but I am on a limited budget) to those candidates who speak well and seem to have a moral compass. The Betos and Amy McGraws and Mary Jane Hagars.
We're out here. I attendended an evening at our PBS headquarters downtown last week, and it was standing room only. The same for meet and greets for candidates.
People are hungry for ethics, and compassion, and truth.
I've never been a particularly political person, but these past two years have finally done it for me. And dozens more.
Every even I attend is FILLED with women...young and old. Black, white, brown.
As we used to sing in the 70's...."the times they are a-changin'"
2
@STL Nonny Yea! Good for you!! There is one question which should determine who we vote for this November: "Are you willing to impeach Trump?"
I want to congratulate every American who cast his or her vote for Donald Trump. Well done. You have turned our country, the United States of America, into a joke.
56
@JPQ
Oh, they know. That was the point.
1
Trump claimed, years ago, that the world was laughing at America behind our backs. Well, he’s changed that! Now the world is laughing at America, and Trump, right to his face.
113
It's not enough, of course, that Trump was nearly laughed off the dais; he had to blather about "globalism" and other Bannonesque conspiracy nonsense. What a profound embarrassment. We have our very first laughingstock "president." Well done, Republicans.
41
When I hear “unaccountable bureaucracy” the first things I think of: Trump’s HUD Secretary and Trump’s EPA. Just like his “con job” comment earlier, the man is a master of projection.
17
The U,N. world laughed at Trump's chest-thumping bragging this morning. "I did not expect that reaction!" said the orange man who is not used to people laughing in his face at his moronic words. He stoked the fires of U.S. sovereignty and condemned globalization today. The whole world is laughing at him now. His speech was like Chamberlain's elated "Peace in our Time" speech to Britain in September, 1938, just before Britain declared war on Germany in September, 1939.
12
Stephen Miller, runs the country not Trump and kids. He authoythe immigration policy of a wall and kidnapping immigrant children. He most likely has a hand in the tariffs and anti- NAFTA talks.Trump’s policies are so Two- faced they are almost laughable. Trump is trying to deny Canada the right to collect sales tax on on- line orders yet make US orders from Canada tax free! Hilarious - since the US made all on line sales taxable. These must be the most fat- headed and incompetent group of policy wonks ever. And they’ve made the US the laughing stock of the world!
17
What a brilliant and inspiring speech for Americans and the World. So brazenly mis-reported and under reported by the Times. Trump was masterful. THIS should have been the lead story but you've buried it amidst your zeal for the FAKE NEWS regarding Brett Kavanaugh. I understand - Trump is RAPIDLY correcting the mistakes of his timid predecessor, the ultimate hero of the "left".
Oh well.
5
@Eyes Wide Open Brilliant? who knew trump was a stand up comedian, and his jokes are all about him. The audience laughed at the correct punch line each time.
4
YOU might consider his speech inspiring but I consider it cringe worthy. The majority of Americans and obviously the rest of the world leaders consider him a laughingstock.
5
Mis-reported...what - they faked the video? Your president was being laughed at by the UN. When was the last time that happened: never. Dreams are nice but it's time to open those eyes now. Unless...it's the middle of the night in Moscow, right?
4
Is it possible that the world has just witnessed our President being laughed at, in the United Nations, in front of hundreds of millions of people from all nations.
Has to be a dream, actually it's a nightmare.
444
@Mel Farrell
Nope you saw it, and I thought it was a long time coming. When Trump said, that he didn't expect that response, he was thinking he was at one of his "rallies" where uneducated white people stand around clapping and cheering at his destruction of our country. Thinking that somehow they are going to be better off. What Trumpo the clown missed, was the rest of us are onto him, his supporters well, they will find out really soon, when the tax cut that corporations got, when that money is absorbed into the economy, there is only one way to go. And those same companies that are enjoying a windfall at taxpayers expense, they will be begging for a bailout.
2
It is neither a dream, nor a nightmare. It is something that needed to happen. The question is - Will the citizens of the United States of America recognize that it means that Mr. Trump is bad for America, and bad for their children's chances for success, and vote accordingly?
We can take comfort in only one small matter - the world was not laughing at the U.S., the world was laughing at one man.
18
To the world at the UN today Trump was a clown that brought a burst of laughter when congratulating himself ,however we who have to endure him as our President do not feel ,humor only constant disbelief that he is still with us and we hope for a change to a person that one day represents all of us not just his own personal fan club.
6
I'm embarrassed that the rest of the world laughs at our president but I'm more embarrassed that he is my president.
20
Yeah , because accountability is important in his administration.
2
Perhaps this entire "U.N." thing is simply a conspiracy by evil Democrats to nullify the fact that Trump was elected our dictator by the largest electoral margin in American history.
Or not.
7
When Trump boasted that his administration had accomplished "more than almost any" other in US history, he was greeted with laughter, but he laughed back, saying: "Didn't expect that reaction."
It could have been worse. When Hassan Rouhani’s predecessor, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad spoke in 2009, 2010 and 2011, delegates walked out.
Last year, Trump lashed out at North Korea, portraying its nuclear threat. This year, it has been replaced by Iran as global enemy number one.
While attacking the current international order, he rejected the idea of globalism and praised the virtues of patriotism. This is like drinking wine while preaching water - utter hypocrisy. He has betrayed his country to get elected, and during his tirade against America’s long-time friends and allies, has has not uttered a single word about Putin or Russia.
9
@J. von Hettlingen
please read - a single world about Putin or RUSSIAN MEDDLING.
2
@ Ray Sipe
I wouldn’t agree that the GOP got nothing in return for moving the US embassy to Jerusalem—they got lots and lots of $$$$ from Sheldon Adelson. And that’s definitely not for nothing.
18
"Hey, the only unaccountable bureaucracy we're gonna have around here is the White House staff, 'my' cabinet and 'my' federal agencies, ok? You know, like 'my' Attorney General,' and 'my' EPA, and 'my African-American' Secretary of HUD. I mean seriously folks, whaddya think we're talkin' about here, a democracy or somethin'? What, you were born yesterday? Sad, folks, it's sad.
You know, I'd like to punch those global bureaucrats right in the face. Cart 'em outta here on a stretcher, like the good old days. Hear what I'm sayin'?"
1
i presume that Trump was trying to get a message across to the rest of the world that he was going to play hardball with iran and expected the rest of the world to sensibly tow the line ....for the benefit of world peace .
DT " I was so good that they awarded me the Nobel Peace prize , THREE of them in one year "!! its a record , no one has ever achieved that before .!!
I imagine that many of us wondered to ourselves earlier "I wonder what he will say today at the UN and sure enough he came out with a few corkers
. I listened to Macron's speech later and he more then stressed the argument that isolationist unilateral nationalism has no part to play in effective Global peace and development .
No doubt ,the White House press office will be coming out with comments regarding Trump's speech along the lines of what the President was meaning to say ,and how he was misinterpreted by the media ,the world and the bones of padre pio .
This week is well and truly a cracker ...
5
@Docpatch It is "toe" the line.
Correct headline:
"Trump met with derision at UN."
12
@whaddoino
YES about the headline. I am disappointed that the NY TIMES article treats the laughter so lightly and mentions it only halfway down in the article.
Steven Miller may be the American equivalent of Russia's Rasputin.......he is a dangerous man influencing an uninformed and reckless president.
18
"It is better to keep your mouth closed and let people think you are a fool than to open it and remove all doubt." - Mark Twain
30
@Judith H
WAY too late for that!
2
@Martin You're right....
Trump is an aggressive boor. A neanderthal. Some people like that in a leader rather than a boy scout. Why?
Stephen Hawkings said aggression is a threat to humanity in modern times. Previously aggression was a great way to find food and find a woman to reproduce (see caveman clubbing cavewoman in comics). Now is the time for gender equality and abolishing advanced weapons that will lead to self-annihilation.
We need to support Elon Musk in colonizing Mars, and to support teachers and behaviorists in changing our aggressive natures.
1
"'Sovereign and independent nations are the only vehicle where freedom has ever survived, where democracy has ever endured, where peace has ever prospered,' Mr. Trump said..." How great an idiot can you be to NOT be aware of the devastation wrought by the wars that preceded the creation of the United Nations? His disgrace to the USA cannot be overstated!
3
Tomorrow morning in Moscow, Vladimir Putin will get out of bed and do a happy dance, having achieved his goal of destroying America's pro-democracy and human rights influence on the world. America is now in zero-sum, jungle rule mode, and this country will suffer for it.
10
When Trump called the U.S. a laughingstock, he was at least right about something—how prescient that turned out to be—the world laughs at us because our president is a fool.
9
Problem is that a man widely regarded as a buffoon and unfit is unlikely to get his message across (even if it was without bluster or relevant or even made any sense). I mean, come on, how can anyone take this man seriously? God knows, his staff sure as heck don't . . .
3
p.s...they weren't laughing with you, they were laughing AT you!
12
Laughter is indeed the best medicine when those who are honest w/ integrity are coping with this despicable man for the next 24 months to go.
ONCE, AGAIN . . . not one negative comment regarding Putin & Russia.
HOW OBVIOUS MUST THIS BECOME ?
Trump is an asset, Putin's poodle. Clearly. How does our intelligence and military keep their stomachs around this traitor ?
7
And they laughed and laughed.
6
Every single day (multiple times per day, for that matter) this incompetent leader brings shame and derision to our country.
9
“Sovereign and independent nations are the only vehicle where freedom has ever survived, where democracy has ever endured, where peace has ever prospered,”
Well that's a head-scratcher. You could also equate "sovereign and independent nations" with atrocities and oppression. Isn't North Korea "sovereign and independent"? Wasn't Hitler's Germany "sovereign and independent"? Wonder who wrote that idiotic line. Probably C-student Miller.
5
President Trump and his Republican ilk prove why democracy must be eliminated.
1
Trump and his handlers will need to stage another fan base rally, as soon as possible, to inflate his deflated ego following his comedic U.N. speech. I’m sure chants of “lock her up” and “drain the swamp” (laughable) will do the trick.
7
Nothing "gets" a narcissist like being laughed at
this time on a world stage.
I hope it burns a hole in his stomach.
Adolescent tweets commence in 3 ... 2 .... 1 ..... =D
3
Hands down, the best speech before the U.N. General Assembly ever given by a U.S. president.
He smacked down the socialists and communists as evil, corrupt and spreading of misery wherever they take a foothold.
Excellent.
3
@Cjmesq0 What were you listening to? They laughed at him multiple times.
12
@Confused in New York. Laughter is a great defense mechanism. Especially when you are being told off in front of the world.
UN diplomats laughed at Trump for his blow hard boasting. This wasn’t his usual uninformed, uneducated crowd. Now he’s likely to get even more paranoid and unpredictable.
13
So happy that Trump is sharing his hilarious sense of humor with the UN.
He’s been killing us with his zany sense of humor since the absolutely side-splitting Obama-born-in-Kenya joke right up to today! And, I have a feeling there’s lots more rip-snorters where those came from!
8
You can hate Trump, but how can you argue with America First”.
Politicians are supposed to consider their constituents first. Does anyone think China or the EU doesn’t practice China first or EU first?
The biggest critics of America First are the countries that have taken advantage of US generosity/stupidity. Germany on defense matters and Trade and China with their 350 BILLION trade surplus.
It’s about time the president cares more for the people than he cares about globalization.
6
@Mike
How about we have US businesses that care more about US workers and move their businesses (and off-shore $) back to US? That includes Trump companies. It's not other countries that have betrayed us.
3
If he truly cared about US citizens he wouldn’t ignore climate change, destabilise the Middle East (Iran, Jerusalem), insult US allies, repeatedly lie to US citizens .... need I go on?
The man is clueless, is rapidly destroying the reputation of the US and bolstering its enemies. You need a president capable and willing to read briefs, not one incapable of understanding the long-term damage that he is inflicting on the country with the attention span of a fly.
2
So, this administration's world view is pure libertarian dogma, everyone acts as a independent entity with casual alliances with each other that can be rejected by the exceptional sovereignty, the United States. This administration's dreams of walls to secure the people inside and outside the sovereignties. Each country taking as much resources from the world as they can buy or steal and polluting freely. Now we, the United States, the world's, "peacekeepers" are encouraging and creating a tempest across the world of international alliances and trade agreements, and attempts to mitigate the incoming climate change tsunami, sadly we've already created enough of a storm in the Middle East and Northern Africa as it is.
5
Trump wants America to retreat into a fortress, lift up the moat, and build that wall. He wants to reduce American global footprint everywhere and only trade when we get the most favorable monetary terms of trade. In short, we are talking about autarky and isolationism. By reducing American contribution to UN Peacekeeping or the UN general budget, withdrawing from the Climate Agreement, Migration Compact, International Criminal Court, the UN Human Rights Council, and Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade agreement and by ripping up the JCOPA deal with Iran the United States is effectively losing its ability to influence global issues in critical areas. Trump folks are looking at the world through narrow transactional lens and valuing short gains over long-term benefits that are not always measurable in monetary terms. Surrendering American leadership credentials at the altar of nationalism, populism, patriotism, and sovereignty might not necessarily pay dividends in this complex interconnected world.
The shift towards isolation and withdrawal points to the assertion of majoritarian identity at a time when the sovereignty of the nation-state is eroding in almost every issue area and when collective solutions are required to solve complex planet wide problems.
8
I don't advocate surrendering our sovereignty (although our great "leader" seems to have no problem with ceding it to Russia), but Europe seems to have gone over 70 years without a major war between European nations. During this time a lot of Europe has been part of NATO, the EU, and the EEC. Not to mention the UN. So at least major efforts at collaboration, as opposed to soloing, seem to help. I know that Trump and his supporters can't abide discussions in anything longer than one-liners. Sorry.
26
Partner good, solo bad.
There's a one-liner even Trump should be able to understand.
3
China's use of industrial planning undermines our bilateral trade balance? One nation should never plan. It is unfair.
9
Just a note to Trump's public relations staff: it's obvious when you squint to read something far away. Like words on a teleprompter. He needs some better contact lenses.
10
ha.ha.ha. the world is laughing while we citizens are crying. this is intolerable!
51
Why can't laughter ring out when Trump speaks to the domestic audience? Why can't the true opposition in this country employ the openly carried weapons of the chortle and guffaw to the ends of righteous ridicule--and not by a late-night comic in a tv studio, but in the halls of power?
30
@David M.
Why? Because all domestic audiences are hand picked to be sure that no one but Trump Kool-Ade drinkers are permitted to attend
9
@David M.because the ones that are still listening to him- are the GOP! His lackeys, the donors, his family. And the people who will believe his lies no matter what.
NOW do you accept that he has made your great country the laughing stock of the world?
174
@Dan Keeble
Sir, beg your pardon but Mr.Trump has only made himself the laughing stock of the world ,most of us are doing fine here ,knowing the Trump MAGA movement can't possibly last forever.
2
@Carlyle T.
Dear Mr T,
Unless you are an actual elector in your Electoral College for 2020, no one really knows who your president will be. It could be Mr Trump again.
Most of us already knew that by mid-November 2016, before he even took office.
Never a good sign when the "Leader of the Free World" has his speech interrupted several times not by applause but by unabashed laughter. The Germans darn near busted a gut they were laughing so hard.
Other than Israel, he is an absolute joke throughout the entire world. Oh yeah, and his clueless base. That may be the main thing that unites them, a complete lack of humor.
Your guy is a joke whether or not you realize it. On November 7th you'll know it for sure. We'll be laughing, you won't.
117
When world leaders at the UN openly laugh at and ridicule an American president our country has truly reached a new low. President Trump and his supporters will never see this - it is all fake news to them. Senator McConnell, Speaker Ryan and other government leaders - how do you feel at this moment when the US has become the laughingstock of the world? Will we hear or see you do anything about this or will you continue to bow down before the President? Remember that America's enemies and adversaries are taking copious notes about the naive fool who sits in the Oval Office and they will remember this day well.
109
I listened to Trump’s speech and heard the “moment of levity.” The moment capped the opening portion of his remarks, all of which he spent aggrandizing himself and what he perceives as his domestic and global political accomplishments. I heard the words “I” and “my” at least 10 times in the first minute of his speaking. It was all about him.
The assembled leaders of the world laughed because the President of the United States presented himself as a ridiculous figure. It was laughter of derision. It was an uncomfortable laughter because everyone can see that our President is a capricious fool and an ignorant clown. He’s a chaos agent with the most powerful military on Earth at his command.
It’s not actually funny but if you don’t laugh you will weep.
588
@Joe Bob the III - The Fox "News" coverage actually edited out the scornful laughter of the crowd.
3
@gJoe Bob the III At least he didn't brag about his Electoral College victory.
2
"It’s not actually funny but if you don’t laugh you will weep."
Does that mean that all my shrieking at the TV screen is not working?
UN leaders openly laughed at the "President" of the United States. America has fallen off a cliff; we are headed straight down under Republican leadership.GOP locks up kids; kills people in Puerto Rico thru inaction; taxes the poor and gives piles of money to the rich. GOP openly visits Russia on the 4th of July. GOP destroys Iran nuclear deal. GOP gives N Korea all the recognition they could ever want; allowing them to keep their nukes. GOP blows up any chance for Mid East peace by moving embassy and getting nothing in return. GOP destabilizes Mid East by selling missiles and bombs to our "Arab" friends. GOP promotes racism. GOP promotes Guns. GOP promotes hate. Vote out GOP. Ray Sipe
194
Vote blue no matter who. No one can be as bad as what we now have.
13
I never thought that the President of the United States would make a complete fool of himself and our Country in front of the whole world. The laughter was like a slap in the face for all of us.
74
@Spucky50
I'd settle for a small slap to your voting hands.
Trump has had it right all along - the world is laughing at the US. It is astonishing, but overall laughable, that he stands before the UN reading from an autocue as to how great he is. He has an undeniable talent for judging and praising himself, but it is seen for what it is - a joke. And, as usual, he gets the figures wrong, or at least distorts them. Yes the US is the single biggest financial contributor to the US in absolute terms, but is only fifth in terms relative to GDP. Fake news!
36
@Garry Taylor
"Yes the US is the single biggest financial contributor to the US"
Nice typo! Nice point too. 5th in absolute terms. As well, how much is New York's economy, and its real estate market in particular, boosted by hosting the UN? Maybe now that Trump is starting to feel "at home" there he will get someone in the Trump Organization to do some figures.
These are dark days.
41
About half way through his address to the General Assembly, the President paused for a moment and then said, "We'll be right back after this brief message from our sponsor."
9
We should all laugh at DJT - long, loud and often
19
Well, it's official, Trump has literally become the laughingstock of the world. Now, if he would just follow his own advice on America's need for a President who isn't one, he'd resign.
But, alas, something tells me he won't.
38
Would like to see polls asking for the level to which American people agree with the statement: "We will never surrender America’s sovereignty to an unelected, unaccountable global bureaucracy. We reject the ideology of globalism and we embrace the doctrine of patriotism.”
7
Sure but those were Steven Miller’s words. Trump isn’t that deep a thinker.
2
@berale8 - That was a brave comment on an imaginary threat. I suppose we won't surrender to the Orcs of Mordor either. Hurray.
6
@Vivien Hessel: Neither is miller
Once again Pres. Trump has demonstrated that he has no self-awareness or understanding of complicated issues facing the world community. He's in a position of power, but people laugh at him. He speaks of ideologies of "globalism" and "patriotism," but could not offer a definition of either one. He speaks down to everyone not named Vladimir, but futilely expects adulation and esteem.
His dependence on Miller and Bolton, and anyone else who flatters him for their pet policies is tragic embarrassment and real threat to the wellbeing of the US and the world.
23
Won’t be long now before the US is a second world nation. Ah yes isolationist nation, last time 1929. Great future.
24
We should not denounce others as "rogue nations" while simultaneously announcing our intention to be one.
The most disturbing thing about Trump to many Americans is that he defines as virtues so many ideas that we do not merely think of as wrong, but as un-American.
21
How could he not expect laughter? He gave the equivalent of a 1970s Don Rickles insult comedy roast. I half expected him to randomly ask someone in the audience "So where are you from?" and then dig into them, but the country name plates would ruin that bit immediately.
7
Maybe nobody told Mr. Trump that this was not one of his rallies?
64
” the audience broke out into murmurs and laughter. " Quite possibly a first for an American president at the U. N. but now a common event for the American electorate.
47
While ever people support Trump and believe the rubbish he spouts, the world will keep laughing at you.
America first puts America last around the world.
8
@Richard Bradley
After 70 years of keeping the peace and promoting trade, at great expense, the US is tired of the burden. The UK has done their share, one of the only few countries that can say that.
The US grows all the food we need, and is close to energy self sufficiency. All imports could be manufactured in the US at an increased price. We don’t really need cars from Germany or cell phones and junk from China.
Fo ahead and laugh, im happy with a booming economy and lower taxes.
2
@Mike:
You don't speak for me. You don't speak for the VAST majority of patriotic Americans that see trump for the lying fool that he is. I'm glad your "lower taxes" aren't being burned up by higher gas prices, higher groceries, and much higher state and local taxes to make up for the federal tax blunder trump pushed. Or are they?
Stephen Miller, unfortunately, is permitted to compose speeches which are a laundry list of his pet peeves. With no experience in diplomacy or foreign policy, Miller is the rhetorical attack dog for Trump. The inaugural address was bad enough, but each speech seems worse than the one before. The lack of linguistic richness is underscored by Trump's predictably poor delivery. His narcissism can not even see the mockery in the audience.
56
Currently on the list of nations with the most ignorant leadership: America First
24
Donald Trump's circle of trust revolves around his family. Beyond that nuclear pod, his distrust begins. In his U.N. speech, he has generously extended his feelings of paranoia to include all of the USA in a battle against the rest of the world. I personally, do not view the rest of the world as adversaries.
29
@GP You are being generous. When the circle of deceit around Trump finally closes, he will throw everyone, including family, under the bus. No one besides him, is either real or important.
3
A moment of levity? The international community was laughing in scorn at Trump's preposterous assertion. Why sugarcoat Trump's obvious narcissism and mendacity??? They were laughing AT him, not WITH him.
75
Yes!
2
One should give President Trump points for courage in speaking to the UNGA, where MAGA hats and tame supporters are few and far between. Seen in that light, a day at the UN would normally be a useful reality check to the puffery Trump gets in Washington and on the campaign trail. Unfortunately, it is clear that Trump has learned nothing from the experience. Most of the world's leaders view Trump as a laughing stock, or at best, a useful idiot, and involuntarily proved that point when they burst into laughter at the President's ludicrous claim that his administration had accomplished more than any in history. That kind of statement works on a friendly crowd of Trump supporters, but not on people who know better. Trump needs a better speechwriter, or, preferably, should just skip the UNGA next year.
18
Trump: "We reject the ideology of globalism, and we embrace the doctrine of patriotism" UN: "Who is this 'we' he keeps talking about?"
15
Trump's rejection of constraints imposed by other nations rejects the whole idea of a UN and its institutions at its core.
Half a century of diplomacy, including central tenets of US diplomacy, down the drain.
9
And FoxNews will probably report that Dems conned the world into not believing in Trump’s unsurpassable greatness. That everyone is either wrong, lying, or a hater...except their Dear Leader
37
As I review the speech, it seems the majority of the laughter is based on the delivery by Trump... starting with "So true", and "I didn't expect that reaction".
I am not a Trump fan, (by a mile)... And I wish the laughter was truly about his claim of accomplishments, but I have to say it was mainly due to the comedic delivery and not the content.
4
@GP
Sorry there is a delay due to translation.
5
They laughed at his claim which he clearly said quite seriously. but then again he's so delusional he won't get that.
11
i agree. he is a showman above all else. I wonder too if some of the laughter was nervous..."am I really hearing this? yikes!"
1
The United States is so respected now that other leaders openly laugh at us.
This moment needs to be a political ad shown over and over again. Let everyone see the world laughing at us under Donald Trump's leadership.
234
@Mohondas it won't influence anyone. His supporters will see the world laughing at their guy and dismiss it, while his detractors will see and say, "yeah, what else is new?"
2
Trump's unlikely electoral college victory has turned the US hard right with a Koch Brother greed is good agenda. The absolute obsession of the US to punish Russia for entirely unproven wild accusations is a new neo cold war propaganda campaign. Trump has joined in the neo con inspired US punishment of Syria. Yemen is being bombed into oblivion by US weapons. Ukraine is led by an anti Russian right wing nationalists with the strong odor of Neo Nazism that overthrew a legally constituted govt. The ironic thing was that Manafort was working to get Ukraine into the EU and prevent the right wing take over, he was in alliance with Israel on this. N. Korea seems determined to press forward with their opening to South Korea which Trump wants to take credit for.
5
It's not nice to laugh at a narcissist when he's in the middle of telling you how wonderful he is.
317
@Rick: This is so, but the true narcissist will be unaffected. In fact, he was.
1
"An unaccountable global bureaucracy"? Or a vital agency that saves lives? Get away from your golfing outings just once and let met take you to the UN High Commission on Refugees in Amman, Jordan, as their staff processes Syrian families who have lost everything. Let me take you to the remote hills between Syria and Israel as the UN peacekeeping mission there polices the border. Watch with me the UN mine-clearing operations in the Jordan Valley, saving lives by removing this deadly debris from wars past. Follow me to war-shattered Yemen, when UN workers are the only source of food and medicine for tens of thousands of war victims. Your foolish words may make your supporters nod their heads, but to the rest of the world, they only reveal your cruel and ignorant nature.
398
@David Sorenson He would never let you take him to any of these places at the risk of learning something. He has no curiosity. He doesn't read. He doesn't want to know anything that might challenge his narcissistic view of the world. If he did, somehow, witness these things, he'd likely say, "Nobody knew the UN did important work until I brought attention to it."
The U.N.members laughed out loud at trump and his boasts . How funny that our fool of a president got laughed at by the world .
143
@donald carlon I think you mean sad, no? Tragic? Awful? Heartbreaking? It's a wonder that, about half way through his address to the General Assembly, the President didn't pause for a moment and then say, "We'll be right back after this brief message from our sponsor."
The Chinese, I understand, have characterized our President as "volatile."
Ya THINK?
A year ago, we had "Little Rocket Man." Well, my goodness! THAT gave one pause. Mr. Trump is a past master at devising catchy nicknames and derisive epithets for people he doesn't like.
And THAT, New York Times, is a LOT OF PEOPLE!
The thought occurred to one at the time: if only vulgar ridicule, abusive nicknames, unsparing mockery could drive dictators and despots off the world stage--
--"what a wonderful world it would be." (Thank you, Mr. Louis Armstrong.)
But they can't. A pity.
And now--Mr. Kim Jung-Un is commended for his wisdom and statesmanship. A year later.
You see what the Chinese mean when they speak of our "volatile" President?
Denuclearize the Korean peninsula? Well--SOUNDS good. I hope Mr. Trump can pull it off.
BUT--
--I'll believe it when I see it.
Which brings me to the perpetual hosannas Mr. Trump is ever singing to himself. Makes me think of Disraeli.
"All men like flattery," said the sometime British PM. "And, when it comes to royalty. . .
". .you should lay it on with a trowel."
Our President is somewhat unique.
He DOES indeed lay on the flattery "with a trowel."
But the man he so assiduously flatters--
--is HIMSELF.
To quote Mr. Trump (in a totally different context)--
"--It almost ought to be against the law."
But it's not.
So you just go ahead, Mr. President.
Enjoy.
16
Mr. Trump is the most unprepared, delusional, dishonest, and morally corrupt president in United States history. A clown on the world stage. He is an embarrassment to our country. It is obvious that the representatives of the nations of the world at the General Assembly meeting also know this when they respond with murmurs and laughter as he tells them how great he and his administration are.
249
True, and to me, the worst adjective you used is "delusional." That allows him to likely believe his own speeches.
Scary and sad.....
6
The buffoonish self-adulation aside, he is right about the dreadful, bloated and corrupt UN bureaucracy, where tinpot dictators and tyrants sip champagne and nibble on canapés while back home the legions starve under repression. The UN is the last body in the world I would trust with my freedom or safety.
12
The US itself has had many "tinpot dictators" as friends and allies over the years - mainly in Latin America and Southeast Asia.
9
@George S no argument on bloat. But it is a democratic body with a veto super committee. It's no different in some ways than the lesser populated states having sway over the rest of us. The Founders' hope had been that the Senate cool down the hot heads in the House, but alas, the senators have abandoned their responsibility to the country as a whole.
5
At least at Helsinki, nobody laughed. We all thought that he was either a fool or a stooge, but it wasn’t thought funny.
This is worse.
56
What a pathetic representation of a country and a world.
56
Speaking of accomplishments, 5000 lies in 600 days is nothing to laugh at!
266
@Sal A. Shuss
That truly is the only record that's Trumps.
1
What did Hassan Rouhani tell President Trump, and did Trump have to sit there and take it, or was he allowed to hide behind an interpreter?
2
I never thought I'd live to see the day when the occupant of the WH is openly laughed at by men and women trained not to react publicly about anything.
How the esteem of this country has fallen under this person.
1342
bravo
2
@Madeleine215
Does this person truly realize that the UN leaders were laughing AT him and not WITH him?
I wonder...
and I am truly mortified by both his actions and his behavior!
1
@Madeleine215
How could they help not to laugh?
He actually had the stonefaced gall to complain about “unchecked bureaucracy? And I am surprised because why?
25
WE don’t reject the “ideology of global order”; at least not the majority of us. Trump, our “so-called” president wishes to characterize our country like he is, selfish and greedy. We are not now nor ever have been a people wiho resemble him and his and cronies ambition of get all you can, as long as you can, country. God has blessed our country to be a blessing to others. Granted we’ve not done this imperfectly, but in general we desire the rights we have as citizens for all peoples, It’s called “the Golden Rule”. Do unto others as you would have them do to unto you”. Patriotism doesn’t come at the expense of concern for your brothers and sisters worldwide. You can love your country without hating other countries and other peoples. Please fellow Americans don’t allow Trump’s persona to define us as a nation. That’s not the kind of world we want for our children and grandchildren. Don’t allow fear of anything or anybody different to keep you from caring about others. We want to be the “shining city on a hill” , not the big, phony edifice, flashing importance with little value that last.
24
What value is US membership adding to the UN anymore? How about a new UN - one not crippled by vetos and countries that see no value in working together?
7
Nikki needs the job.
2
@Marcus Aurelius
Seriously, the rest of the members couldn't adapt without the U.S.?
“Iran’s leaders sow chaos, death and destruction,” he declared. “They do not respect their neighbor or borders, or the sovereign rights of nations.”
Hmmm, sounds rather like USA's foreign policy. Recent examples would be Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, Palestine, the list goes on and on. Historically the USA has been adept at righteous posturing to obscure its brutal approach to global relations. This president seems to believe his own bluster, free from irony and any meaningful big picture perspective. No need for sophistry here.
Trump may not be the most effective or honest US president, but I would submit that he is the most authentic.
14
@TB Johnson -- "authentic"?.... Authentically unqualified and clueless in his own chaos. How is that effective in any way?
3
Leave it to the Dear Leader to make the occasion, as always, all about him. He just confirmed what most of us have known all along - the world considers him a vainglorious popinjay and an object of ridicule. He boasted to them and they laughed in his face. He must be apoplectic behind the scenes!
32
When the United Nations shows the same respect for Taiwan that it shows for China, I will respect the UN. Sadly, that day has not arrived.
By not showing a modicum of respect to the millions of people of Taiwan, the UN comes across as just another pious and righteous organisation.
Not a fan of Mr Trump, but the UN and its member nation/states, are in no position to cast ill comment on America.
12
I think it's about time people started laughing out loud at the buffoon's pronouncements. He's nothing but a joke, albeit dangerous. Perhaps that how Dems should handle his next State of the Union - laugh hysterically at everything he says. No applause, no stony-faced silence, just hysterical laughter. Since we can't 'lock him up' we may as well laugh in his face.
141
@Mark H. Shouting "You lie!" like was done to Obama might be effective at getting a memorable Twitter response.
2
He's accomplished more damage domestically and globally in two years than almost any other president. I suppose Hoover's ineptitude gives his a run for the money, and Hoover wasn't corrupt and self-serving. Perhaps he was taking a Kremlin perspective: he's accomplished more to advance the interests of the Kremlin in two years than any other president. He's accomplished more in interest of plutocrats in two years than any other president? He's accomplished more in two years to prove ignorance and malevolence are not good credentials for a leadership position than any other president? He's accomplished more poisonous, pointless, Tweeting in a language that is neither English nor any other than any other president? He's accomplished more lying in two years than any other president. Ever.
65
Goodbye United Nations. Hello League of Nations.
4
Listening to Trump praising other countries for helping refugees while throwing literally thousands of babies and kids into detention centers in our country... My eyes are still rolling.
Just another robotic reading of a fascist script from Stephen Miller. I don't know other leaders listening to this don't burst out laughing at this "speech".
85
Well, he got another "death and destruction" moment in there. You can't be the savior of the world if things are okay. His speech was all about him, his favorite topic and one that he wishes the world to share. He didn't get rapturous adoration. Time for another rally to sooth his bruised ego.
17
Steve Miller has long been a threat to the wellbeing and security of Americans, almost as bad as his former friend Steve Bannon. His speeches are inflammatory, endangering our relationships with both allies and adversaries; as we've now witnessed, they also bring down upon us the derision of the world.
Not that Trump necessarily needs a speechwriter for that; he does fine just adlibbing on Twitter.
47
It is incomprehensible that the same people who will weep over the starvation and murder of children in Yemen will not acknowledge that the Houthis would long since have had to give up if it wasn't for economic and military support from Iran. Iran has used its money to promote violence throughout the Middle East. And yet some continue to lament the lessening of the economic windfall Iran expected from the Iran Nuclear deal. The Iranian Revolutionary Guard, so humiliated in the attack on their military parade last week, is the same group that had American sailors on their knees with their hands on their heads, and regularly taunts American war ships in international waters of the Persian Gulf. Donald Trump is saying that this is intolerable, and will not continue; if Europe is so anxious to placate Iran let them pull out their checkbook. Then, when Iran's nuclear armed missiles fly into southern Europe, they can explain it to their own people.
4
Well, maybe the Saudis would have had to give up without support from an unnamed country? It isn’t just Iran who is sponsoring “freedom fighters”, bombing and putting soldiers boots on the ground in the Middle East. Like it or not, but a certain county’s military presence and history in the region kneecaps its righteous criticism of the other participants.
9
And what was wrong with the Houthis until both outside Sunni and Shia countries started getting more involved in the civil war in Yemen?
1
The World laughs at trump. Far more humiliating than when he was roasted at the Press House Dinner! I wonder how he tries to turn this around into something positive for donald trump?
43
@mariamsaunders
Ontario has Doug Ford and our country has Justin. Pots and kettles come to mind.
1
So the man who said in 2016 that the world was laughing at the United States proved just that.
We now have a president who claims to have accomplished more than almost any administration in the history of our country. And the UN Assembly breaks out laughing. That's the kind of shame I hope he carries with him for the rest of his life.
I can only that, much like after George Bush, we can reclaim our nation's standing in the world in 2020.
85
Hurray! The Republican party has literally made us the laughing stock of the world.
105
@RP Smith
Im certain that every developed country would be happy if their GDP growth and financial markets performed as well as the US over the past two years.
Im laughing also, on my way to the bank.
3
If Stephen Miller is the “domestic “ policy advisor, why is he in charge of the remarks given at the UN.
Shouldn’t he just stick to sowing chaos in our country.
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Most won't understand the importance of the president's comprehensive message because they are not paying attention to geopolitics and global socio-economic affairs. They should be.
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@GDeLuca
I await the English translation of the speech by the Master of the T e l e prompt uuuuuuuuurrrrrr
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@GDeLuca
Explain the importance to us. Because his speech sounds like a bunch of drivel to me. All he did was pat himself on the back. He accomplished more than any other president - Seriously?
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No major power accepts the authority of the UN over it, although many pay lip service to it. Mr. Trump is the little boy who pointed out the Emperor has no clothes.
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@Douglas Levene: Contrarily,Donald Trump is the emperor with no clothes on.
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@Douglas Levene
I guess Down East you don't understand how the UN functions.
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@Douglas Levene
You are certainly right, when you allude to Mr Trump being 'the little boy'. Mr Trump has the emotional maturity of a little boy.
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Talk about burying the lede.
"...there was one moment of levity, albeit at the president’s expense. When he declared that his administration “has accomplished more than almost any administration in the history of our country,” the audience broke out into murmurs and laughter."
The whole speech made me shudder, but that moment was an absolute embarrassment to to our country.
How about an updated headline:
Trump Speaks at U.N., World Laughs
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@AWJ " the audience broke out into murmurs and laughter" Please take note, Mr. President--the world isn't laughing at the United States--they're laughing at you.
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@AWJ
"Trump Speaks at U.N., World Laughs"
If I may, let me extend this to read, "Trump Speaks at U.N., World Laughs, Trump supporters (i.e. 40% of Americans) Love It."
4
I'm a canadian. I feel your pain. I assure you that America will survive and grow to greater heights.
4
Trump is conning his base in proclaiming America First. If anything it is Trump and Friends first as he redistributes wealth to the rich.
If he really cares about this country he would do something to solve our inherent problems which will impact our collective wealth and well being.
Our infrastructure is broken.
Our education system is uncompetitive and underfunded.
Our Security and Democratic values are under Cyber attack.
Our health care system is the most expensive and least extensive in terms of coverage and successful health metrics It will get worse as we age
Income inequality grows threatening our ability to grow our economy as 65 percent of our GDP is driven by consumer spending
We cannot produce high value goods eg Robots etc, even with tariffs we cannot produce discretionary goods at competitive prices.
Our National debt particularly if you include Student debt is out of control and will inhibit our ability to fix any of the above issues and give us flexibility to recover from a recession which will surely happen.
It will the irresponsible tax cuts, tariffs drive up costs , interest rates and a stronger dollar.
Our trade gap will grow as exports become more difficult
No Mr Trump you are putting America last,the World is laughing at us, you experienced this today, meanwhile forming new alliances with China
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@Carsafrica
You didn't mention:
Funding cuts for basic scientific research, which has been the engine of our economic growth and leadership in the tech sector
Seceding leadership in producing renewable energy to the Chinese and other countries that take it for granted that climate change is real
7
This is like sending a kindergartner to deliver the High School valedictorian speech. WE are the laughingstock of the civilized World. Thanks, GOP.
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@Phyliss Dalmatian
Hey, don't bother the GOP. They are busy getting a sexual predator placed on the Supreme Court.
1
"Mr. Trump’s message drew a mostly stone-faced response from the audience in the General Assembly chamber... When he declared that his administration “has accomplished more than almost any administration in the history of our country,” the audience broke out into murmurs and laughter."
These responses from world leaders say it all. Guess Trump got his message across for "America First" and they heard it loud and clear in disbelief or shock and finally just resorted to outright mockery and laughter at the expense of our great leader. It is far from reassuring to know how respected the United States is regarded in the world under this strategically deficient president.
To his sage advisers: Please keep him away from any other meetings of import regarding foreign affairs. Didn't we learn enough from his stellar performance in Helsinki?
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The difference in Helsinki was that one person was laughing with his smirk. That was Vladimir Putin.
2
"we embrace the doctrine of patriotism" says the guy who fabricated bone spurs to get out of military service and who is now heaping praise on a guy still running re-education camps for a population that has widespread starvation and who is working Trump as a chump on nuclear weapons.
"Not good" = about the only truthful thing Trump has ever said.
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@Kay Johnson
Orwell put it best:
War is peace
Freedom is slavery
Ignorance is strength.
And a Tweet ending in ‘bad’, will probably become ‘double-plus ungood ‘.
2
I wish the old saying that laughter is the best medicine was still true. I guess it still would be if it wasn’t inspired by the worst joke of a president this country has ever elected.
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Besides the initial hyperbole and laughter, this speech could be used as a cure for insomnia. Low energy. Sad! Not good.
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I guess no one explained to Mr. Trump that this wasn't a Trump rally.
I wonder who gets to break it to him that they weren't laughing with him, but at him.
470
Tough room, eh, sir?
The laughter that met with Trump’s ludicrous claim that his administration has accomplished more than almost any other in U.S. history will go down as the signature moment of his presidency, as will his utterly bewildered expression that no one else was greeting his delusion with adoring applause and cheers.
Thus the difference between yelling at a fan base rally and speaking before the pinnacle of world leadership.
1427
@MDB Yes. The world leadership was rather restrained.
6
bravo
1
don the con not used to preselected true believer crowds. he is the antithesis of what a democratic leader should be - and indeed is leader of an empty parade.
2
His lack of self-awareness is astonishing. He had no idea that the world is laughing at his idiocy. Such an embarrassment.
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AP Headline, September 25, 2018: "World leaders laugh as Trump boasts of his achievements"
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Change that to “supposed achievements” and you’ll be right on the money.
10
Vladimir Putin has achieved his goal.
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Donald and Nikki need shoes thrown at them.
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The …"doctrine of patriotism"...and silly red hats...
It's only Tuesday and the Follies Americaine has reached epic proportion. Nikki RU working? The clown ringmaster is in the house.
In Trumpian mindlessness he forgets "unaccountable Presidency".
25
President Donald J. Trump is the very definition of a bad joke.
81
It seems that the president has been proven right. Other countries ARE laughing at the US.
69
@Joec, no, other countries are laughing at Trump
15
@David Sorenson
David, we're laughing at both, although we do feel somewhat sorry for you.
1
Dear United Nations members:
On behalf of the majority of Americans who did not vote for this President, but saw him assume office because of our outdated Electoral College, please accept our apologies.
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The majority of Americans didn’t vote.
4
@Marcus Aurelius You are obfuscating history in your comment by neglecting to mention that Bill Clinton DID receive the most votes in 1992--almost 6 million more than his opponent, George H.W. Bush, who got 39.1 million. The election was complicated by the cadidacy of Ross Perot, who got 19.7 million votes. But Clinton had by far the most votes, so there was no question about whether he had legitimately won.
Trump, however, got 3 million fewer votes than Hillary Clinton, and was nevertheless installed thanks to the antiquated electoral college, which in this case did in fact thwart the will of the people (or at least those who voted).
The day we take accountability lessons from this con artist who has flouted the laws and norms all his life ...
31
Dear World (All Other Countries),
Trump does NOT represent the MAJORITY of Americans.
He does not represent our views on globalism, unity, partnership, and shared common goals and interests.
Trump is only concerned with his ego, his bank account, his ego, his bank account, his ego, his bank account, and his ego.
Please be patient while we American Voters do some major housecleaning in November.
Thank you,
The Majority of Americans
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@Mike Franz This is probably generally true, but really who knows the majority's view on 'globalism', which represents a bundle of ideologies that stem from, and overwhelmingly held by, the elites in DC. We need a proper public debate on internationalism and transnational neoliberal trade policies.
Thank you,
Just one concerned American
3
@Mike Franz
"Also, we are too comfortable in our own lives to do anything meaningful to stop this person tarnishing our friendships and image abroad and setting a horrid example for our children while barreling headfirst to accelerated climate change."
-The Majority of Americans.
@Mike Franz
"...Please be patient while we American Voters do some major housecleaning in November..."
Canada here, Franz. We are well past patience long ago.
2
The very idea that The Con Don "scorns" anything is ludicrous. I am embarrassed and humiliated that he pretends to represent OUR United States of America on the world stage. Hopefully other world leaders realize he is just a stolen election fake. WE THE PEOPLE - average people across America and around the world - do.
The Koch brothers and their International Mafia Top 1% Global Financial Elite Robber Baron/Radical religion Good Old Boys and Girls Cabal think they have won their 40+ year hostile financial war to destroy democracy in America and governments around the world. Boy, have we got news for them.
If The Con Don fires Deputy FBI Director Rod Rosenstein, or forces him to resign, there is a massive world-wide march planned. It's called Trump Is Not Above The Law and 400,000 people have already signed up. The link is below. Check out the partners page - the march is being promoted by most of the democracy-loving organizations in America.
WE THE PEOPLE are the only ones who can stop The Con Don and his Robber Baron friends and NOW is the time.
https://www.trumpisnotabovethelaw.org/event/mueller-firing-rapid-respons...
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I watched the entire speech. I thought it was at once firm; but, diplomatic, giving credit where credit was due, speaking clearly of those people and countries that need direct talk.
As contrasted with the Obama speeches, President Trump has positive results to discuss in both national and international matters.
I think it was his best speech so far that clearly set out the underpinnings of his administration’s policy goals as well as tactics.
10
@Islander - you must have watched a different speech from the one that I watched. I did love the bits where he heaped praise on himself for all of his amazing achievements. That got a good laugh at home and abroad.
26
And yet, I somehow know that you can’t accurately describe so much as one of his goals or tactics.
Don’t feel bad; neither can the Donald.
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@Islander
you may have "watched it", but your listening and comprehension skills need work.
26
The world is laughing at Trump and I'm afraid he might lash out and do something stupid - like starting a war with Iran.
122
how embarrassing.
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Can anyone take this buffoon seriously? He's embarrassed himself in front of the entire world community. Hopefully the world does not equate trump with the US and its people.
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@wihiker
In response to your question: see Islander's post above.
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@PBS
Yes, there is always an Islander. In fact there are enough of them to win the electoral college. Sad!
@wihiker
"...Hopefully the world does not equate trump with the US and its people...."
What else should we do?
2
Go, Mr. Tough Guy!
I can imagine all our allies sitting there with air sickness bags. And I can imagine Nikki actually believing he's listening to anything she has to say.
When he gets back to D.C. the first order of business will be to punch Rod Rosenstein in the nose.
33