President Donald Trump speaks to world leaders at the 72nd United Nations (U.N.) General Assembly at U.N. headquarters in New York on September 19, 2017 in New York City. (Photo: Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
Socialists Have Last Laugh After Trump Zinger Lands With Thud at UN
Trump expected applause. He got awkward silence.
A painfully awkward silence--and some scattered laughter--befell the United Nations General Assembly hall in New York Tuesday as U.S. President Donald Trump attempted to blame the "faithful" implementation of socialism for Venezuela's political and economic crisis.
"The problem in Venezuela is not that socialism has been poorly implemented, but that socialism has been faithfully implemented," Trump said.
Eventually, some in the hall quietly applauded the comment--but only after Trump waited desperately for several long moments.
Watch:
Tuesday's speech marked Trump's first address before the U.N. General Assembly, and he used the occasion to threaten North Korea with "total" destruction (a remark critics denounced as 'genocidal'), ponder a "military option" in Venezuela, and boast about the stock market.
Social media, of course, had a field day with Trump's Venezuela remarks, which many characterized as a "please clap" moment for the ages.
Trump: "socialism has been faithfully implemented." Holds for applause. Gets awkward laughter from a lot of...happy socialists
-- Chris Baugh (@chris_baugh_) September 19, 2017
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A painfully awkward silence--and some scattered laughter--befell the United Nations General Assembly hall in New York Tuesday as U.S. President Donald Trump attempted to blame the "faithful" implementation of socialism for Venezuela's political and economic crisis.
"The problem in Venezuela is not that socialism has been poorly implemented, but that socialism has been faithfully implemented," Trump said.
Eventually, some in the hall quietly applauded the comment--but only after Trump waited desperately for several long moments.
Watch:
Tuesday's speech marked Trump's first address before the U.N. General Assembly, and he used the occasion to threaten North Korea with "total" destruction (a remark critics denounced as 'genocidal'), ponder a "military option" in Venezuela, and boast about the stock market.
Social media, of course, had a field day with Trump's Venezuela remarks, which many characterized as a "please clap" moment for the ages.
Trump: "socialism has been faithfully implemented." Holds for applause. Gets awkward laughter from a lot of...happy socialists
-- Chris Baugh (@chris_baugh_) September 19, 2017
A painfully awkward silence--and some scattered laughter--befell the United Nations General Assembly hall in New York Tuesday as U.S. President Donald Trump attempted to blame the "faithful" implementation of socialism for Venezuela's political and economic crisis.
"The problem in Venezuela is not that socialism has been poorly implemented, but that socialism has been faithfully implemented," Trump said.
Eventually, some in the hall quietly applauded the comment--but only after Trump waited desperately for several long moments.
Watch:
Tuesday's speech marked Trump's first address before the U.N. General Assembly, and he used the occasion to threaten North Korea with "total" destruction (a remark critics denounced as 'genocidal'), ponder a "military option" in Venezuela, and boast about the stock market.
Social media, of course, had a field day with Trump's Venezuela remarks, which many characterized as a "please clap" moment for the ages.
Trump: "socialism has been faithfully implemented." Holds for applause. Gets awkward laughter from a lot of...happy socialists
-- Chris Baugh (@chris_baugh_) September 19, 2017