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Trump clarifies ‘mocking laughter’ at UNGA as ‘fake news’, says ‘they were laughing with me’

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U.S President Donald Trump termed world leaders mockingly laughing at him during his address at the annual UN General Assembly as ‘fake news’, PTI reported. He assured at the press conference on Wednesday that the delegates were not laughing at him but “laughing with me”.

“That’s fake news, and it was covered that way,” Trump said.

“I was in front of a large group of highly professional people, most of whom are from either other countries or the United Nations, people that aren’t big into clapping, applauding, smiling, and I heard a little rustle as I said our country is now stronger than ever before. It is true. I mean it is true. I heard a little rustle. And I said, it is true.”

“And I heard smiles. I said, I didn’t know there would be — they weren’t laughing at me. They were laughing with me. We had fun. That was not laughing at me. So the fake news said, people laughed at President Trump. They didn’t laugh at me. People had a good time with me. We were doing it together,” Trump said.

Earlier, during his address, Trump had said, “Today, I stand before the UNGA 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.”

His remarks garnered laughter and claps from the world leaders gathered at the UNGA hall for the General Debate.

“Didn’t expect that reaction but that’s OK,” Trump had responded.

The moment has been seen as underlining and reinforcing his isolation on the international stage, since his aggressive policies and constant withdrawals from international deals have created rifts and doubt.

Tensions are abound further after Trump’s US Supreme Court nominee, Brett Kavanaugh has been accused of sexual misconduct by two women.

The mocking laughter has been seen as ironic after in 2014, Trump had tweeted “We need a President who isn’t a laughing stock to the entire World. We need a truly great leader, a genius at strategy and winning. Respect!” in apparent reference to then President Barack Obama.

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