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Trump arrives late for UN General Assembly session, gets laughed at while talking of US' accomplishments

Trump's motorcade pulled in late in the UN building and as he was headed to the General Assembly hall, he stopped for a few minutes to address reporters stationed at the delegates' entrance in the General Assembly building.

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The US President is traditionally the second speaker after Brazil to address the General Debate in the high-level UN General Assembly session, but President Donald Trump broke the tradition as he arrived late to the UN for his speech and missed his slot to speak.

Brazil's President Michel Temer addressed the General Debate as the high-level session of the 73rd UN General Assembly opened here Tuesday. In current practice, after the opening of the meeting by the President of the General Assembly, the Secretary-General makes a statement, followed by the President of the General Assembly and then the representatives of Brazil and the United States.

The US President speaks second but Trump arrived late for the General Debate and President of the current session of the General Assembly Maria Fernanda Espinosa had to call Ecuador President Len n Moreno to address the General Debate.

Trump's motorcade pulled in late in the UN building and as he was headed to the General Assembly hall, he stopped for a few minutes to address reporters stationed at the delegates' entrance in the General Assembly building.

At the General Debate, Member States take turns delivering speeches and are given a right of reply when required. Since the 10th session in 1955, Brazil has spoken first and the United States has spoken second, with a few exceptions.

At the 38th (1983) and 39th (1984) sessions, the United States spoke first and Brazil spoke second. At the 71st session, on September 20, 2016, Chad spoke second due to the delay in arrival of the President of the United States.

According to the UN Protocol and Liaison Services, during the Organisation's early years, no one ever wanted to be the first to speak, and Brazil always ended up volunteering to go first. This has now become a tradition.

The second spot goes to the host country (the US), and then the order of speakers follows a complex algorithm reflecting level of representation, geographical balance, the order in which the request to speak was recorded, and other considerations.

Trump then evoked laughter at the UN General Assembly as he boasted about his administration's accomplishments in his speech.

"Today, I stand before the United Nations General Assembly to share the extraordinary progress we have made. In less than two years, my administration has accomplished more than almost any administration in the history of our country. So true, Trump said at the top of his speech.

His remarks elicited laughter from the world leaders gathered in the UN General Assembly hall for the General Debate.

"Didn't expect that reaction but that's okay," Trump responded, as the delegates in the UNGA hall laughed and clapped.

Trump said America's economy is booming like never before and since his election, the US has added USD 10 trillion in wealth.

"The stock market is at an all-time high in history African-American, Hispanic-American, and Asian-American unemployment have all achieved their lowest levels ever recorded," he said.

Trump said his administration has added four million new jobs including half a million manufacturing jobs and has passed the biggest tax cuts and reforms in American history.

"We have started the construction of a major border wall and we have greatly strengthened border security. We have secured record funding for our military, USD 700 billion this year and USD 716 billion next year. Our military will soon be more powerful than it has ever been before.

"In other words, the United States is stronger, safer, and a richer country than it was when I assumed office two years ago. We are standing up for America and the American people, and we are also standing up for the world," he said.

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