New york: U.S. President Donald Trump addressed the U.N. General Assembly without mentioning North Korea, despite highlighting his efforts to foster global peace and claiming to have "ended seven wars" since the start of his presidency.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Trump highlighted achievements such as mediating conflicts between countries including Israel and Iran, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and others. His comments came shortly after North Korean leader Kim Jong-un expressed a willingness to engage in dialogue with the U.S., contingent on the U.S. dropping its denuclearization demands.
During his speech, Trump criticized the United Nations for its lack of involvement in resolving these conflicts, asserting that no other leader or country has matched his achievements in such a short period. He expressed disappointment that the U.N. did not assist in his peace efforts.
Trump's remarks were made in the presence of U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. He sarcastically mentioned receiving a broken teleprompter and a faulty escalator from the U.N., questioning the organization's purpose and effectiveness in solving global issues.
Trump clarified that his peace initiatives were not an attempt to win a Nobel Peace Prize but were aimed at saving lives. He expressed hopes of re-engaging with North Korea during his upcoming visit to South Korea for the APEC summit.
On the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Trump criticized China and India for funding the war through oil purchases from Russia and urged European countries to stop buying Russian energy. He also threatened new tariffs on Russia should a peace agreement not be reached.
Trump took the opportunity to promote his "America First" policy, citing achievements in border security, trade deals, and foreign investments. He criticized former President Joe Biden's administration, portraying it as marked by weakness and lawlessness.
Trump defended his use of tariffs as necessary for fair trade and called for an end to the development of biological and nuclear weapons. He also dismissed clean energy and climate change initiatives as a "green scam" and urged action on immigration and energy policies.