Talking Points: Response To Trump’s United Nations Speech
Last Updated on January 11, 2021.
Trump United Nation’s Speech Response
In his first address to the UN General Assembly, President Trump spoke fiercely about America’s sovereignty. However, it’s not America’s sovereignty that is in question, but rather America’s leadership on the world stage.
From a belligerent approach with America’s allies and escalating tensions with North Korea, to slashing foreign assistance and pulling away from global efforts to tackle climate change, Mr. Trump continues on a path that undermines the security and well-being of America and all peoples around the world.
REFUGEES
Trump’s Claim: “We [the United States] seek an approach to refugee resettlement that is designed to help these horribly treated people and which enables their eventual return to their home countries to be part of the rebuilding process. For the cost of resettling one refugee in the United States, we can assist more than ten in their home region.”
Reality:
- Contrary to Trump’s claims, refugees bring more revenues than they cost. [Source]
- Regardless of where they come from – whether as a refugee or as an undocumented young person – everyone is equally deserving of dignity, welcome, and protection from harm. As a nation founded in part by refugees and immigrants, America must not only continue to support host countries supporting refugees, but also welcome refugees here at home and reject any kind of discriminatory, xenophobic policies that dishonor our history, beliefs and values.
- Every year, refugees open businesses, revitalize towns, become citizens and help make the communities that welcomed them better. Supporting refugees does not only mean saving lives, but also successful integration for refugees in communities across the US.
RT: In President Trump’s childhood home, refugees who escaped conflict and persecution shared their stories oxf.am/2yhKCWh #welcomehome
Life Saving Foreign Assistance and Women’s Empowerment
Trump’s Claim: “We have invested in better health and opportunity all over the world through programs like PEPFAR, which funds AIDS relief, the President’s Malaria Initiative, the Global Health Security Agenda, the Global Fund to End Modern Slavery, and the Women Entrepreneur’s Finance Initiative, part of our commitment to empowering women all across the globe.”
Reality:
- Many of these life saving programs are facing devastating cuts in the President’s budget, which seeks to eliminate funding for key U.S. programs, including the Ambassador-at-large for Global Women’s Issues, a development assistance funding account that historically provided over $250 million for gender equality and women’s empowerment, as well as crucial funding for agencies like the UNFPA. Talk is cheap when you don’t fund the efforts you tout.
RT: Trump to @UN: “The US is a compassionate nation.” True compassion wld mean supporting not undermining the rights of women & girls worldwide.
IRAN
Trump’s Claim: “… we cannot abide by an agreement if it provides cover for the eventual construction of a nuclear program. The Iran deal was one of the worst and most one-sided transactions the United States has ever entered into. Frankly, that deal is an embarrassment to the United States, and I don’t think you’ve heard the last of it. Believe me.”
Reality:
- The Iran deal is working. It verifiably blocks Iran’s paths to building or acquiring a
nuclear bomb and greatly strengthens the security of the United States and our allies. - Undermining the Iran nuclear deal puts the U.S. back on the path toward direct military confrontation with Iran. Without the nuclear deal in place, the U.S. faces greater probability of war with Iran. International security experts say the Iran nuclear agreement enhances the security of the United States and its allies, and makes war with Iran less likely.
- Diplomacy is the best way to achieve lasting solutions to security crises. We must refrain from aggressive actions that could endanger the lives of U.S. troops, undermine the nuclear deal and put us on the path to war.
RT: Trump attacked the #IranDeal at #UNGA. Without it, we’ll have another North Korea in the Middle East https://twitter.com/WinWithoutWar/status/910149605127581696
RT: At #UNGA, Trump floats possibility of war with North Korea. His own SecDef said that would “catastrophic” https://twitter.com/WinWithoutWar/status/910147333643554816
RT: Trump says the #IranDeal was “the worst.” Israel’s security establishment doesn’t think so https://twitter.com/WinWithoutWar/status/910148162307928064
NORTH KOREA
Trump’s Claim: “The United States has great strength and patience, 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.”
Reality:
- A war with North Korea would be catastrophic: If any military action was taken, it could escalate very quickly into a full scale war, requiring a full ground assaultand likely resulting in at least one million deaths and a total disruption of the world economy. Trump’s words have isolated the United States from our regional allies, and run contrary to what Americans overwhelmingly want – diplomacy.
- The only real option is to pursue negotiations: Whether setting up a private diplomatic back-channel, creating a military-to-military hotline, or re-starting multilateral negotiations, diplomacy can take many different forms. Most importantly, the Trump administration must keep the door to talks open. What’s more, polls show Americans want diplomacy. One recent poll found that 72 percent said they were uneasy about war with North Korea and 60 percent said the threat could be contained. Another survey from April found that while 70 percent consider North Korea a threat, 81 percent supported diplomacy as a means to combat it.
RT: Trump threatened to “totally destroy North Korea.” This is reckless & irresponsible. War would kill millions & wreck the world economy #UNGAhttps://twitter.com/WinWithoutWar/status/910151940713140224
RT: .@POTUS‘s #UNGA speech is the opposite of diplomacy. He threatened #NorthKorea, attacked the #IranDeal & ignored our allies https://twitter.com/WinWithoutWar/status/910152596618346497
AFGHANISTAN
Trump’s Claim: “Last month I announced a new strategy for victory in the fight against this evil in Afghanistan. From now on, our security interests will dictate the length and scope of military operation, not arbitrary benchmarks and timetables set up by politicians. I have also totally changed the rules of engagement in our fight against the Taliban.”
Reality:
- Trump’s announcement last month of a plan for Afghanistan had virtually no details. This excessive secrecy sets a dangerous precedent and threatens the values we hold dear in a democracy.
- The reality is, there is no military solution to the challenges that remain in Afghanistan. By continuing down the same failed “military-first” policy that his two predecessors pursued, Donald Trump is risking more American and Afghan lives, wasting more taxpayer dollars, and making a sustainable and lasting peace even harder to achieve.
CLIMATE CHANGE
Trump’s Claim: “We are guided by outcomes, not ideologies.”
Reality:
- Trump’s decision to withdraw from the Paris Climate Accord flies in the face of his rhetoric at the United Nations that countries of the world must work together to solve our greatest security challenges. Climate change is the single most important security issue of our time requiring the collective efforts of everyone on the planet. Pulling the U.S. out of the agreement has been called “probably our most consequential error since the Iraq War” and abdicates American leadership on climate change and clean energy to countries like China. Abandoning Paris shows the rest of the world that the United States has little regard for science and the plight of those who will be most touched by its negative effects.
RT: https://twitter.com/TomTolesToons/status/910170395222740992
September 19, 2017