Hot Chocolate and Current Events: Trump's UN Speech

*Note: This post went originally appeared in our Friday newsletter on September 22, 2017. To get the latest current events, subscribe to our newsletter. 

For our second Hot Chocolate and Current Events, we will equip your homeschool family to discuss President Trump’s speech to the UN General Assembly. 

There are a couple of options here. Choose one. Kick up your feet with your cups of hot chocolate and... 

• watch a video of Trump’s speech. The actual speech is a primary source, and watching it is the best way to increase knowledge about foreign affairs. 
• read the text of the speech. Just as good as the option above, though you’ll miss audience reactions. 
• read this article about Trump’s speech. 

Key Terms:

United Nations General Assembly: The main deliberative, policymaking, and representative body of the United Nations. Each country has one vote. 
Marshall Plan: After WWII, the U.S. gave Europe over $13 billion (about $130 billion today) in economic support to help rebuild its war-torn countries. 
sovereignty: the authority of a state to govern itself
Otto Warmbier: The American student who was imprisoned in N. Korea for ripping down a banner. He presumably was tortured in prison and returned to the U.S. in a coma, where he later died. 
Kim Jong Un: Leader (dictator) of N. Korea (nicknamed Rocket Man by Trump) 


Questions for discussion:

Why did Trump say the UN was founded? Do you think that they have done a good job fulfilling these roles? 

What do you think was the main message that Trump wanted to get across? 

Why do you think Trump uses the word “sovereignty” so many times? Why is it so important that the UN protect nations’ sovereignty?

Trump calls a small group of “rogue regimes” the “scourge of our planet.” What do you think is the job of the UN with respect to these rogue nations?

How does North Korea threaten the world? 

Trump said that the U.S., if it is forced to defend itself or its allies, will “totally destroy North Korea.” What do you think of this statement? 

Should Trump call Kim Jong Un “Rocket Man”? Why or why not?  

*Photo courtesy of Trump White House. 

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