Trump boasted of America’s military strength, signalled he was ready to rip up a nuclear accord with the « murderous regime » in Tehran, and berated US foes from Pyongyang to Caracas.
UNITED NATIONS: A bellicose President Donald Trump used his maiden address to the UN General Assembly on Tuesday (Sep 19) to warn « Rocket Man » Kim Jong-Un that he will « totally destroy » North Korea if it threatens the United States or its allies.
Appearing before the 193-member organisation that emerged from the ashes of World War II, Trump boasted of America’s military strength, signalled he was ready to rip up a nuclear accord with the « murderous regime » in Tehran, and berated US foes from Pyongyang to Caracas.
« The United States has great strength and patience, » Trump said – as he followed in the footsteps of US presidents from Harry Truman to Barack Obama – « but if it is forced to defend itself or its allies, we will have no choice but to totally destroy North Korea. »
« Rocket Man is on a suicide mission for himself and for his regime, » he said, using his Twitter-friendly new nickname for the North Korean dictator. « The United States is ready, willing and able, but hopefully this will not be necessary. »
Throughout the 42-minute remarks, Trump did little to temper his trademark tough-guy language for the assembled statesmen and women, warning that swathes of the world were « going to hell » and declaring any trade with North Korea an « outrage. »
In language some commentators compared to former president George W. Bush’s « axis of evil » speech, Trump pilloried Iran as a corrupt « rogue state » and threatened to rip up the landmark international deal struck in 2015 to curb Tehran’s nuclear programme.
« Frankly, that deal is an embarrassment to the United States, and I don’t think you’ve heard the last of it, » Trump declared.
« Believe me. It is time for the entire world to join us in demanding that Iran’s government end its pursuit of death and destruction. »
But, the US leader added, the greatest threat to the Tehran regime was not the American military but the restless Iranian people.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammed Javad Zarif responded on Twitter: « Trump’s ignorant hate speech belongs in medieval times – not the 21st century UN – unworthy of a reply.
