President Trump is delivering his third address to the United Nations General Assembly Tuesday morning.
His speech comes amid heightened instability in the Middle East, following a recent attack on Saudi oil facilities that the U.S. believes was carried out by Iran. In Israel, Mr. Trump’s close political ally Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu failed to secure a majority in the recent election and is now in the midst of power-sharing discussions with adversary Benny Gantz, with whom he was virtually tied.
In last year’s address, he derided the “ideology of globalism” and multinational authorities, and underscored the importance of national sovereignty and need for countries to pay for their own defense. Mr. Trump espoused the values of self-interest for the U.S. and other countries.
Trump begins speech
The president, introduced as “his excellency,”began speaking at 10:13 a.m.
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Mr. Trump said the current time is one of “high stakes” and “clear choices.”
The president said the essential divide is the choice between those who have a thirst for control, and people and nations who want only to rule themselves.
Mr. Trump then went on to say the U.S. is the most powerful nation with the greatest military, and he hopes America never has to use that power.
“The future does not belong to globalists. The future belongs to patriots,” the president said.
Trump defends temporarily withholding Ukraine aid
President Trump, when asked about his decision to block aid to Ukraine shortly before his call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, he said he “wanted other countries to put up money.”
“We paid the money,” he said, arguing that other European countries should help Ukraine with its defenses. “That’s been my complaint from the very beginning,” Mr. Trump added.
And in language that echoed his sentiment about the 2016 Russia investigation, Mr. Trump decried the Ukraine controversy as a “witch hunt” when addressing reporters shortly before his speech before the United Nations General Assembly.
He again described his call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as “perfect” and maintained that he had applied no pressure on him to investigate Joe and Hunter Biden.
“But there was pressure put on with respect for [Joe] Biden’s son,” he argued. “That’s something they should be looking at,” he said.
Excerpts of the president’s speech
The White House sent along a few lines of the president’s prepared speech before delivery. In the speech he plans to return to themes urging countries to act in accordance with their own interests above all. He’ll also call for reform of the international trade system and will state that the U.S. seeks peace and cooperation.
The excerpts follow:
“If you want freedom, take pride in your country. If you want democracy, hold on to your sovereignty. If you want peace, love your nation.”
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“At the center of our vision for national renewal is an ambitious campaign to reform international trade. For decades, the international trading system has been easily exploited by nations acting in bad faith. As jobs were outsourced, a small handful grew wealthy at the expense of the middle class.”
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“The United States does not seek conflict with any other nation. We desire peace, cooperation, and mutual gain with all. But I will never fail to defend America’s interests.”
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“When you undermine border security you are undermining human rights and human dignity.”
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“Love of our own nations makes the world better for all nations.”
Trump to address China, Iran and Venezuela
Counselor to the president Kellyanne Conway told Fox News Tuesday morning that the president will focus on putting America’s policies first in his speech.
The speech, which she described as “very powerful” will include discussing China and Iran.
The president will also bring up Venezuela, according to a senior State Department official.
Christina Ruffini contributed to this post.
Trump’s Ukraine call
Mr. Trump’s presence at the U.N. General Assembly has so far been dominated by questions about a phone call this summer with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, in which Mr. Trump confirmed he discussed former Vice President Joe Biden and aid to Ukraine. Indeed, his most anticipated meeting at the U.N. is the one he’ll have on the sidelines of the General Assembly with Zelensky.
On Monday, Mr. Trump denied that he ever pressured Zelensky and threatened to withhold funding from Ukraine, and when he was asked about whether he’d be willing to release a transcript of the call, he said that he hoped reporters would be able to see the transcript, although he also said he’d “rather not do it, from the standpoint of all of the other conversations I have.”
He offered this prediction to reporters about the transcript: “You’ll be very disappointed when you see it.”
