President Donald Trump gave an “America First” speech in front of the United Nations today, speaking out in favor of national sovereignty, deriding the evils of socialism and communism, and calling for other countries to contribute more for global security. However, examining Trump’s record against his rhetoric shows that his speech today consisted of mostly hot air.
“As President of the United States, I will always put America first, just like you, as the leaders of your countries will always, and should always, put your countries first,” Trump said toward the beginning of his speech.
However, Trump’s foreign policy has not put America First in the slightest. He is doubling-down on his predecessor’s troop surge in Afghanistan and increasing hostilities with North Korea to the point of creating a new cold war. These maneuvers have only helped the bottom line of defense contractors while contributing to the economic decline of the U.S.
“The Iranian regime’s support for terror is in stark contrast to the recent commitments of many of its neighbors to fight terrorism and halt its financing,” Trump said, rehashing the most stale and tiresome of Bush-era Neocon interventionist talking points. In the next sentence, he would go on to praise the Middle East’s most heinous regime: Saudi Arabia.
“In Saudi Arabia early last year, I was greatly honored to address the leaders of more than 50 Arab and Muslim nations. We agreed that all responsible nations must work together to confront terrorists and the Islamist extremism that inspires them,” Trump said.
Saudi Arabia is kingdom governed by radical Islamists under the dictates of Sharia Law. According to a Human Rights Watch report released in late 2015, women are not permitted on the streets of Saudi Arabia unless they are accompanied by a man. There is a only small percentage of women in the workplace, and female rape victims can be punished criminally. Women can be stoned to death for committing adultery. Polygamy is also permitted in the region, and this is what Trump proclaims as his model nation working to combat extremism in the region.
“The problem in Venezuela is not that socialism has been poorly implemented, but that socialism has been faithfully implemented,” Trump said. “From the Soviet Union to Cuba to Venezuela, wherever true socialism or communism has been adopted, it has delivered anguish and devastation and failure. ”
However, when it comes to socialism on the domestic front, Trump has no problems with implementing those policies. He publicly attacked conservative lawmakers who wanted to actually repeal Obamacare, opting to do the bidding of House Speaker Paul Ryan and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell instead. When that blew up in his face, Trump flipped completely and began openly negotiating with the enemy. He negotiated a deal earlier this month to force more crippling debt onto the backs of taxpayers with Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY).
“We must solve our problems, to build our prosperity, to secure our futures, or we will be vulnerable to decay, domination, and defeat,” Trump said during his speech.
Unfortunately for the President, a speech filled with half-truths, misrepresentations, and outright deceptions is not doing anything but perpetuating the status quo that he was elected to change. America’s future will not be secure until the President finds his cojones and offers more than pathetic lip service to the American people and their pressing concerns.
