We have a look at how President Trump’s speech to the U.N. Normal Meeting landed Tuesday as per week of high-level occasions will get underway.
MARY LOUISE KELLY, HOST:
President Trump had a stark message for the United Nations in the present day.
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PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: Your nations are going to hell.
KELLY: He was talking about what he calls a disaster of migration. And Trump accused the United Nations of constructing it worse by supporting migrants. He additionally says the U.N. is just not dwelling as much as its potential. Many nations may agree with that, although maybe for various causes than Trump cited. NPR’s Michele Kelemen stories.
MICHELE KELEMEN, BYLINE: In an almost hour-long tackle, President Trump known as local weather change a hoax, ridiculed nations attempting to unravel it. And he mentioned he thinks the largest drawback on the planet is, quote, “uncontrolled migration.”
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TRUMP: It is uncontrolled. Your nations are being ruined. The United Nations is funding an assault on Western nations and their borders.
KELEMEN: The United Nations Refugee Company does assist migrants uprooted by struggle, and the U.S. used to just accept refugees who undergo a protracted U.N. and U.S. vetting course of. However Trump has put a cease to that, permitting in only a few refugees – largely white farmers from South Africa. He advised the U.N. that nations ought to comply with the U.S. lead in stopping migration.
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TRUMP: In actual fact, they don’t seem to be even coming anymore as a result of they know they cannot get by. However what came about is completely unacceptable. The U.N. is meant to cease invasions, not create them and never finance them.
KELEMEN: Whereas Trump claimed credit score but once more for ending seven wars and urged he ought to get a Nobel Peace Prize for that, most different audio system targeted on those he hasn’t been in a position to resolve – Russia’s struggle towards Ukraine and Israel’s struggle towards Hamas in Gaza.
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KING ABDULLAH II: The struggle in Gaza marks one of many darkest moments on this establishment’s historical past.
KELEMEN: That is King Abdullah of Jordan, who accuses Israel of burying the concept of a Palestinian state by increasing settlements within the West Financial institution and destroying a lot of Gaza within the struggle towards Hamas.
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ABDULLAH II: Virtually two years in and the cruelty of this army marketing campaign continues unabated.
KELEMEN: France and Saudi Arabia co-hosted a convention on Monday to attempt to enhance the prospects of a Palestinian state. Greater than 150 nations have now acknowledged one – a transfer Israel and Trump name a present to Hamas.
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TRUMP: However as an alternative of giving in to Hamas’ ransom calls for, those that need peace needs to be united with one message – launch the hostages now. Simply launch the hostages now.
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KELEMEN: President Trump had been promising to finish the struggle in Gaza on Day 1. The identical is true for the struggle in Ukraine.
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TRUMP: I assumed that will be the best due to my relationship with President Putin, which had all the time been one.
KELEMEN: And he says Russia thought it will take simply three days to take over Ukraine, however that did not occur both.
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TRUMP: It was purported to be only a fast little skirmish. It is not making Russia look good. It is making them look unhealthy.
KELEMEN: After assembly Ukraine’s president, Trump mentioned that he now thinks Ukraine can win again all of its territory. At instances, President Trump obtained private in his speech. He railed towards Brazil’s leftist president. However earlier than he did, Trump described his transient encounter with Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.
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TRUMP: I noticed him, he noticed me, and we embraced. After which I am saying, are you able to imagine I’ll be saying this in simply two minutes?
KELEMEN: Trump has imposed tariffs and sanctions on Brazil partially over a case towards Lula’s predecessor, Trump ally Jair Bolsonaro. However in that transient second – 39 seconds – Trump mentioned he had good chemistry with Lula and agreed to satisfy him subsequent week. These sort of encounters are what makes the U.N. Normal Meeting so important, says U.N. Secretary Normal Antonio Guterres. He met with Trump for the primary time and praised his efforts to result in peace.
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ANTONIO GUTERRES: You’ve gotten chosen peace as a central goal of your mandate.
TRUMP: It is true.
GUTERRES: And you’ve got been…
KELEMEN: The secretary normal mentioned the U.N. is able to assist, although Trump joked earlier within the day that his first impression of the headquarters was of a damaged escalator and a nonworking teleprompter. Michele Kelemen, NPR Information, the United Nations.
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