How risible and despicable: In addressing the United Nations General Assembly, Donald Trump once again bragged that “while others have spoken of peace, I have made peace.” Then he rattled off the “eight” wars he has supposedly settled, before boasting about the war he waged and won against Venezuela and defending the war he is waging, but seems unable to win, against Iran, even musing about whether to “annihilate” it.
When he refers to “others” who only speak about peace, Trump means the United Nations, which he and his MAGA followers never miss an occasion to belittle. Therein lies a non sequitur that strikes at the foundation of the U.N. and the international system it represents: The American president in fact resembles his Russian counterpart in accelerating the decline of the U.N. system, which both hold in contempt.
Trump and Vladimir Putin each lead one of the so-called P5, or permanent and veto-wielding members of the U.N. Security Council. (The others are China, Britain and France.) In theory, the council is the body meant to safeguard the U.N. Charter and prevent another major war.
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