President Trump reiterated his "America first" worldview and policy agenda on Tuesday in a speech at the United Nations that bemoaned globalism and instead urged mutual support among sovereign nations.
"Wise leaders put the good of their own people and their own country first," Trump said in his third address as president to the UN General Assembly. "The free world must embrace its national foundations. It must not attempt to erase them or replace them."
However, he called for countries to work together toward common goals. "America is ready to embrace friendship with all who genuinely seek peace and respect," he said. "Many of America's closest friends today were once our greatest foes. America has never believed in permanent foes."
As with his past speeches at the UN, Trump used the platform to critique international institutions.
The president doubled down on his maximum pressure approach to Iran, a government he characterized as "one of the greatest security threats" to international peace. Trump, who pulled the U.S. out of the Iran nuclear deal last year despite global objections, threatened greater sanctions if "menacing behavior continues" and added that "no responsible government should subsidize Iran's blood lust."
Trump also called on North Korea to denuclearize and slammed Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, calling the embattled leader a "dictator" and "a Cuban puppet protected by Cuban bodyguards." In a not-so subtle shunning, the Venezuelan delegation in the audience visibly read a book about Simón Bolívar, the military and political leader that lead Venezuela's fight for independence.
<i>Photo Credit: Richard Drew/AP/Shutterstock</i>
On China, Trump reiterated that he will "not accept a bad deal for the American people" in order to resolve the enduring trade dispute between the two countries. He also called on Chinese President Xi Jinping to tread carefully in responding to the ongoing unrest in Hong Kong, saying that China must adhere to the governing system that protects "Hong Kong's freedom, legal system, and democractic ways of life."
He bragged of America's strong economy and lowest level of unemployment in half a century, "thanks to our pro-growth economic policies" and noted plans to meet with Japan's Prime Minister Shinzō Abe to work on a new trade agreement.
While touting the might of the U.S. military, the president said the U.S. "does not seek conflict" and desires "peace, cooperation, and mutual gain with all," although his administration will "never fail to defend America's interests." He also called on member nations to increase their contributions to global security and "pay their fair share of the tremendous defense burden" that has largely fallen on the U.S.
On migration, Trump fired back against international criticim of his illegal immigration policies, saying, "Each of you has the absolute right to protect your borders and so, of course, does our country." He also criticized "open border activists" who he said pursue a "cruel and evil" agenda that is "empowering criminal organizations that prey on innocent men, women and children."
The president also derided socialism — the "wrecker of nations and destroyer of societies" — and declared that the U.S. will never be a socialist country.
Above all, however, Trump stressed that governments lead by "patriots" are the future of the world's nation-state system.
"The true good of a nation can only be pursued by those who love it, by citizens who are rooted in its history, who are nourished in its culture, committed to its values, attached to its people, and who know that its future is theirs to build," Trump said at the end of his speech.
Following the invasion of Ukraine, a multitude of Western companies have paused doing business with Russia. PepsiCo, Coca-Cola, McDonald's, and Starbucks are the most recent companies to temporarily cease operations in Russia. Dean of Miami Herbert Business School at the University of Miami, John Quelch, joined Cheddar News to discuss what message this sends to Russia and the Russian consumer. “I would not underestimate the collective strength of all of these multinational companies, essentially coming together to make their collective statement in support of the political statements that have come out of Washington," he said.
The war in Ukraine continues to reveal heartbreaking gut-wrenching stories. The war in itself is not only devastating but also expensive. Experts estimate that Russia is draining nearly $20 million dollars each day to continue occupying and invading Ukraine. All this could force the country to turn to cryptocurrencies. It's a major turn for the country that briefly considered outlined digital assets entirely, but it could also have serious implications for cryptos. Managing Director at Quantum Fintech Group, Harry Yeh, joined Cheddar to discuss more.
President Biden announced a ban on Russian oil and natural gas imports to the U.S. in response to its invasion of Ukraine, a move he warned could lead to an even greater surge in gas prices. The ban is prompting a conversation about the current oil production levels in the U.S. and whether or not the industry can ramp up production to soften the blow to American families at the gas pump. Clark Williams-Derry, Energy Finance Analyst with the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis, breaks down the state of the U.S. oil industry and how the ban might impact production levels here at home.
PepsiCo, Coca-Cola, McDonald’s, and Starbucks are the latest American food brands to have halted business operations in Russia after having faced scrutiny and criticism for originally failing to do so amid the country's invasion of Ukraine.
As Russia intensifies its war on Ukraine, President Biden announced a ban on oil imported from the aggressor nation. Critics of Russia have said this would be the best way to force Putin to pull back, but curbs on Russian oil exports are expected to send already skyrocketing oil and gas prices even higher, further impacting consumers, businesses, financial markets, and the global economy. Leslie Beyer, CEO of the Energy Workforce and Technology Council, joined Cheddar News' Closing Bell to discuss. "It's certainly going to increase pricing, but it is the right thing to do," she said. "The industry itself has already pulled out of the significant portion of its operations in Russia."
Sports Betting in the U.S. is booming. According to industry experts, we could see another boom this year as more states move towards statewide legalization of sports wagering. While this comes as huge news for fans, there are some very real concerns as to whether or not sports betting potentially poses a threat to public health. Senior Clinician at the Caron Treatment Centers, Eric Webber, joined Cheddar to discuss more.
The Biden administration has made gender policy a core part of how it governs. The president established the first Gender Policy Council. It's on the same level as the National Security Council, Domestic Policy Council and National Economic Council, putting the interests of women and other underserved groups at the table for the most important policy discussions.
Cheddar News sat down with Jennifer Klein, executive director and co-chair of the White House Gender Policy Council, to discuss the council's work and its significance during Women's History Month.
State Representative Jessica González, Vice Chair of the Texas House LGBTQ Caucus, joins Cheddar News to discuss the latest Texas anti-transgender directive.
The United States Secretary of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack joins None of the Above to discuss the newly emerging conflict in Europe, what it means for agriculture in the states, dairy and meat consumption, and how the department is planning to promote climate-smart agriculture.
