Trump's rejection of globalism draws mocking laughter

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US President Donald Trump used his annual address to the United Nations General Assembly to recite his "America First" policies and to urge the world to reject globalism, which drew murmuring and laughter from other world leaders.

"We will never surrender America's sovereignty to an unelected, unaccountable, global bureaucracy," Trump said, in language popular with his political base.

"America is governed by Americans. We reject the ideology of globalism, and we embrace the doctrine of patriotism."

The remarks led to some murmuring and laughter in the crowd, taking the president slightly aback.

US President Donald Trump addresses the 73rd session of the United Nations General Assembly at UN headquarters in New York, US, September 25, 2018. /VCG Photo

"I didn't expect that reaction, but that's OK," he said.

Trump has disrupted the world order by withdrawing the United States from the nuclear deal and the Paris climate accord, and threatened to punish NATO nations for not paying more for their common defense.

Alternative views

French President Emmanuel Macron offered an alternative view when it was his turn at the podium.

Macron told the delegates that the law of the survival of the fittest, protectionism and isolationism would only lead to heightened tensions.

Defending multilateralism and collective action, he said nationalism would lead to failure and if countries stopped defending basic principles, global wars would return.

"I do not accept the erosion of multilateralism and don't accept our history unraveling," Macron told the assembly, at times raising his voice. "Our children are watching."

Macron, citing the example of Iran, said that this unilateralism push would lead directly to conflicts.

France's President Emmanuel Macron speaks during the UN General Assembly meeting in New York, US, September 25, 2018. /VCG Photo

Earlier, the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned of the rising anti-multilateralism sentiment. He said: "The world is more connected, yet societies are becoming more fragmented. Challenges are growing outward, while many people are turning inward. Multilateralism is under fire precisely when we need it most."

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, addressing the UNGA after Trump, sharply criticized the US president's decision to withdraw from the 2015 nuclear deal.

"Confronting multilateralism is not a sign of strength. Rather it is a symptom of the weakness of intellect – it betrays an inability in understanding a complex and interconnected world," he said.

Source(s): Reuters