Trump stands alone at UNGA, defends America First foreign policy

UNITED NATIONS - In face of blank stares, headshake, and frowning, US President Donald Trump on Tuesday delivered a speech at the 73rd session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), touting his America First foreign policy and trade stance, while attacking globalism.

Trump highlighted his commitment to "putting sovereignty above global governance" and defended several of his highly controversial diplomatic decisions.

"We will never surrender America's sovereignty to an unelected, unaccountable, global bureaucracy," he noted. "We reject the ideology of globalism, and we embrace the doctrine of patriotism."

"OPEC and OPEC nations, are, as usual, ripping off the rest of the world, and I don't like it. Nobody should like it. We defend many of these nations for nothing, and then they take advantage of us by giving us high oil prices. Not good," he said.

He attacked several international organizations and treaties, such as UN Human Rights Council, International Criminal Court and the Iran nuclear deal, all of which his administration has announced to exit or sanction against.

"I have told our negotiators that the United States will not pay more than 25 percent of the UN peacekeeping budget," he said. "This will encourage other countries to step up, get involved, and also share in this very large burden."

Saying that "I honor the right of every nation in this room to pursue its own customs, beliefs, and traditions. The United States will not tell you how to live or work or worship," Trump seemed to have failed to explain the contradictions between this claim and his administration's behaviors against Iran and Europe, among others.

He lashed out at Iran, Venezuela and Germany, among others, boasting about the just-announced US sanctions on Venezuela earlier on Tuesday.

"We ask all nations to isolate Iran's regime as long as its aggression continues," he said.

As for the US policy regarding Israel-Palestine peace, Trump said "America's policy of principled realism means we will not be held hostage to old dogmas, discredited ideologies, and so-called experts who have been proven wrong over the years, time and time again."

Regarding the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), Trump said his meeting with the country's top leader, Kim Jong-un, is productive. However, Trump added that sanctions on the nation will stay in place "until denuclearization occurs."

"We have engaged with North Korea (DPRK) to replace the specter of conflict with a bold and new push for peace," he said.

The speech, meeting with blank stares, headshake, and frowning all over the process, has ended "in polite, muted applause," according to several media outlets on-site.

This was the second time for Trump to address the UNGA since he assumed office in 2017.