President Biden delivered a speech at the United Nations and called for global unity, saying countries cannot face modern challenges alone. He cited climate change as an “existential threat” to the United States and the world and called for an end to fossil fuel energy. The President also addressed Russia’s “naked aggression” toward Ukraine and vowed that America would continue to support President Volodymyr Zelensky. He called the conflict an “illegal war of conquest brought without provocation.”
In addressing China, President Biden stuck a conciliatory tone. He said the United States wants a competitive relationship with communist China that does not tip over into conflict. However, he added that America will “push back on aggression and intimidation and defend the rules of the road.”
Meanwhile, Donald Trump referred to the President’s remarks as “surrender.” On this Truth Social media account, former President Trump said, “Biden just finished his surrender (“speech”) at the United Nations, and nobody, despite all we give them, showed up. No respect for America any longer.”
French President Emmanuel Macron, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, and the leaders of China and Russia were absent from the event. President Volodymyr Zelensky was present, however. The Russian Ambassador to the United Nations, Vasily Nebenzya, was seen scrolling through his phone while President Biden spoke.
In his first speech to the General Assembly in 2017, President Trump did not withhold his criticisms of the body and emphasized American greatness. He pointed out that terrorist regimes reside within the United Nations and that “authoritarian powers” aim to destroy the values and alliances that have allowed the world to avoid conflict and advance freedoms since the Second World War.
Instead of advocating closer global governance, President Trump called for an end to mass migration, adding that countries do not share the same cultures and traditions. Mr. Trump stressed that the world is stronger when nations “embrace their sovereignty to promote security, prosperity, and peace for themselves and for the world.”
