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.
On a live broadcast, an employee on a Russian state news television channel held up a sign protesting propaganda about the war in Ukraine. Ruslan Deynychenko, executive director of the Ukrainian fact-checking organization StopFake, joined Cheddar News to discuss what he called the misinformation spread to the Russian people about the invasion. "They are not about informing people they are about brainwashing people," he said. "Russian government uses their media as an instrument, as a tool, of their foreign policy."
Student loan payments for millions of borrowers are set to resume on May 1st. However, signals from the Department of Education show that the date may be pushed back. Once again, it's been pushed back a few times. Initially, the Biden Administration stated loan payments would resume as the economy continues to show signs of recovery. Student Loan Expert and Author of "How to Appeal for More College Financial Aid", Mark Kantrowitz, joined Cheddar to discuss more.
Tim Davis, Partner and Executive Managing Director at Steward Partners, joins Cheddar News' Closing Bell, where he discusses what activity we could expect to see from the crypto market this week as the Fed decision approaches, the prices of Bitcoin and Ether struggle to find a spark, and the industry continues to digest President Biden's executive order on crypto.
Russia may be asking China for help with its war in Ukraine, according to several reports citing unnamed U.S. officials. Russia is reportedly calling on its ally for military and economic assistance, in an attempt to avoid punishment from sanctions imposed by the U.S., Europe, and Asia, which have hammered Russia's economy. Chinese and Russian officials denied the reports. Meanwhile, top U.S. and Chinese officials are meeting today, with both countries confirming the conflict in Ukraine will be the meeting's main topic. Edward Wong, diplomatic correspondent for the New York Times, joins Cheddar News' Closing Bell to discuss.
A Ukrainian drone company is using its technology to help defend its home nation during the ongoing war with Russia. Valerii Iakovenko, co-founder and CEO of DroneUA, joined Cheddar News to discuss its efforts to help against the invasion. "These drones can be used to do strikes more precise and even cheap drones, even simple technologies can help to make a defensive possibilities more precise," he said.
Following the Texas Supreme Court's decision to end further challenges against the latest abortion restrictions, Texas saw a 60 percent decrease in abortions performed in the state — with an exodus of patients seeking care in other parts of the country. President, and CEO of Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Alexis McGill Johnson, joined Cheddar News at South by Southwest 2022 to discuss the impact of the court's ruling on reproductive health care in the Lone Star State and beyond.
Damian Mason, farm owner, agricultural economist and author of "Food Fear" joined Cheddar News to talk about how the Russian invasion of Ukraine is putting pressure on commodities, which could lead to a 20 percent price hike according to the United Nations. “Russia and Ukraine are responsible for about 35 percent of exports, 35 percent of grain exports, specifically wheat,” said Mason. He also added, "You've got Russia saying, 'we're going to hoard and hold back our wheat,' which of course crimps global supply, and you've got Ukraine that maybe won't even get harvested."
In order to qualify for one of the coveted first retail licenses in New York's adult-use cannabis program, you'll have to have a conviction on cannabis-related charges or have an immediate family member who does. It's part of the latest effort by New York lawmakers to create a diverse and inclusive industry — but some advocates still have reservations. Amber Littlejohn, the executive director of the Minority Cannabis Business Association, joined Cheddar News' Closing Bell to discuss. "We definitely applaud the state of new york, but ultimately the devil will be in the details as to whether or not this actually works out to create equity in the cannabis industry," she said.
