Biden Gives Last Address to UN General Assembly

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SEP 24 2024

Above: US President Joe Biden addresses world leaders during the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) at the United Nations headquarters on Sept. 24, 2024 in New York City. Image copyright: Spencer Platt/Staff/Getty Images News via Getty Imagesstory last updated SEP 25 2024

The Facts

US Pres. Joe Biden on Tuesday used his final address to the UN General Assembly to express his hope that the US continues to engage with the rest of the world while a resolution is sought for the war in the Gaza Strip, the civil war in Sudan, and the Russia-Ukraine war.
Biden said the US and its allies must "make sure that the forces holding us together are stronger than the forces pulling us apart."
In terms of the Middle East, where Israel recently targeted a thousand Hezbollah targets in Lebanon — even while its war in Gaza continues — Biden said "full scale war is not in anyone's interest" and called on Israel and Hamas to finalize a cease-fire and hostage-release deal.

The Spin

Pro-establishment narrative

Biden's speech highlighted the things he does best, especially coalition building. Although many say more can be done to aid Ukraine, Biden helped pull NATO together to stave off Russian advances. In Gaza, Biden's administration is working around the clock in an attempt to get a ceasefire despite the two sides' tentativeness. In addition to his speech, Biden held several meetings about how countries can come together to tackle the challenges of the world.

NBC

Establishment-critical narrative

Biden can crow about his foreign policy experience and his so-called successes. But there are three wars waging across the globe, and his speech offered no path for a way forward toward ending the bloodshed. Biden's speech was all "feelings and vibes" and resulted in criticism from several other world leaders who are looking toward the US for leadership.

Guardian

Conservative narrative

Biden's failed policies have done nothing but set the world aflame, and even as he bragged about his so-called accomplishments, he seemed to acknowledge his failures. But nothing he said mattered because he was urging an inept UN — which has abandoned its peace-keeping duties in the Middle East and lets the leader of Iran travel to New York unimpeded — to help out when it obviously has no intention of curtailing terrorism or draining anti-American autocrats of their power.

Townhall