President Donald Trump needled his predecessors by touting his administration’s accomplishments in his opening remarks to the United Nations on Tuesday morning in New York City.
The president began his speech by beating the drum of America’s successes domestically and internationally under his administration: “Today, I stand before the United Nations general assembly to share the extraordinary progress we’ve made. In less than two years, my administration has accomplished more than almost any administration in the history of our country, America — so true.”
The room of diplomats and world leaders broke into laughter.
“Didn’t expect that reaction, but that’s OK,” Trump said, smiling.
The Trump administration has taken a very blunt, muscular approach to negotiations within the U.N. American ambassador to the U.N., Nikki Haley, regularly sparring with other nation states.
The president continued, jabbing at the previous Obama administration by noting how much better the United States is doing than “two years ago”:
America’s economy is booming like never before. Since my election, we have added $10 trillion in wealth. The stock market is at an all-time high in history. Jobless claims are at a 50-year low. African-American, Hispanic-American, and Asian-American unemployment have all achieved their lowest levels ever recorded. We have added more than 4 million new jobs, including half a million manufacturing jobs. We have passed the biggest tax cuts and reforms in American history. We have started the construction of a major border wall and we are greatly strengthening border security. We have secured record funding for our military. $700 billion this year. $716 billion next year. Our military will soon be more powerful than it has ever been before. In other words, the United States is stronger, safer and a richer country than it was when I assumed office less than two years ago.”
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