Trump calls climate change a ‘con job’, slams UN over open borders

UNITED NATIONS: President Donald Trump assailed the United Nations and other countries in a grievance-laden speech that accused the world body of offering nothing but “empty words”, labelled climate change a “con job” and warned open borders risked destroying nations.

- Agencies

Setting aside calls for unity, Trump began his speech to the UN General Assembly by venting his frustration that the UN hadn't done more to support his diplomatic efforts. “I ended seven wars, dealt with the leaders of each and every one of these countries, and never even received a phone call from the United Nations offering to help in finalising the deal,” Trump said on Tuesday.

Americans accustomed to the US president's discursive speeches would find much familiar in the address, which ran for nearly an hour. But foreign leaders not inured to Trump's attacks witnessed a combative leader who heaped himself with praise while repeatedly violating unwritten UN protocol of not criticising other countries by name.

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