Biden delivers his first address as president before the United Nations General Assembly

President Joe Biden made his first major address before the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday – announcing new financial commitments as he tried to reestablish the U.S.’s place in the global community. 

Biden said he’d ask Congress to double the amount of money for public climate financing – to about $11 billion a year – while also devoting $10 billion to curb hunger. 

‘We are not seeking a new Cold War,’ Biden also assured the delegates, after the U.N.’s secretary- general expressed concerns about the U.S.’s deteriorating relationship with China.    

He arrived with an entourage of aides to U.N. headquarters Tuesday morning – ignoring reporters’ questions. 

Biden will address the conference on the heels of the U.S.’s frenzied pull-out from Afghanistan and after the relationship with a key ally, France, was rattled, over a submarine deal with Australia. The border crisis has emerged as a top problem domestically.   

‘The President will essentially drive home the message that ending the war in Afghanistan closed a chapter focused on war and opens a chapter focused on purposeful, effective, intensive American diplomacy defined by working with allies and partners to solve problems that can’t be solved by military force and that require the cooperation of many nations around the world as well as nonstate actors from the private sector and nongovernmental organizations and international institutions,’ a senior administration official said Monday, previewing Biden’s remarks. 

Biden arrived in New York Monday afternoon and met with U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres Monday night.      

‘America is back. We believe in the United Nations and its values,’ Biden said, trying to constrast his White House with that of his predecessor, President Donald Trump. 

President Joe Biden speaks at the United Nations General Assembly Tuesday morning – marking his first appearance at the annual forum as president 

President Joe Biden arrives at the United Nations headquarters in New York Tuesday morning where he’ll deliver a speech before the U.N. General Assembly 

President Joe Biden (right) met with United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres (left) in New York Monday night, ahead of his speech to the United Nations General Assembly Tuesday morning 

United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres (left) and President Joe Biden (right) are photographed with their aides at the Intercontinental Barclay Hotel in New York Monday night 

Trump pushed an ‘America First’ agenda during his four years in office – and viewed multi-state organizations like the U.N. and NATO skeptically.  

In their first in-person meeting, Guterres said he was ‘delighted’ to meet with the American president, saying Biden ‘clearly affirmed a strong commitment’ to the U.N. 

‘The vision of the United Nations has never been short in ambition, any more than our Constitution,’ Biden said. ‘Ambition matters.’ 

‘Today, governments must continue to work together in a system to build on international law to deliver equitable prosperity, peace and security for everyone,’ Biden continued. ‘This is as vital and important today as it was 76 years ago,’ Biden told aides and reporters in the room, noting that he recently re-read the U.N.’s charter. 

The duo took no questions and neither man brought up comments Guterres made over the weekend saying he feared another Cold War – this time between the U.S. and China – because the countries’ had a ‘completely dysfunctional relationship’ as of late.

Prior to Biden’s arrival in New York press secretary Jen Psaki said the president will make it ‘absolutely clear’ during his UNGA address he is not looking to start a Cold War with any country. 

President Joe Biden (right) greets New York’s new governor, Kathy Hochul (left), on the tarmac at John F. Kennedy International Airport Monday evening, where he’s also met by New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio (center right) and his wife Chirlane McCray (center left)

Biden waves from the stairs before boarding Air Force One en route to New York City where he’ll meet with Guterres Monday night, ahead of his Tuesday appearance at UNGA 

Biden waved to the watching press as he departed the White House Monday for New York City, where he’ll address the United Nations General Assembly for the first time as president on Tuesday

‘I would also note that tomorrow the president will deliver a speech … at the U.N. General Assembly and he will make absolutely clear he is not looking to pursue a future, new Cold War with any country in the world,’ Psaki said. ‘We will continue to pursue our interests. We will continue to lift up global priorities, but that is not the objective or policy of the United States.’ 

A senior administration official pressed this point when talking to reporters Monday. 

‘And the speech will center on the proposition that we are closing the chapter on 20 years of war and opening a chapter of intensive diplomacy by rallying allies and partners and institutions to deal with the major challenges of our time,’ the official said before ticking them off. 

‘COVID-19, climate change, emerging technologies, rules of the road on trade and economics, investments in clean infrastructure that is noncorrupt and high-standards, a modern approach to counterterrorism, and vigorous competition with great powers – but not a new Cold War,’ the White House official said.  

When Biden arrived in New York he was greeted by the state’s new governor, Kathy Hochul, along with New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio and his wife Chirlane McCray. 

He will only stay in New York through Tuesday afternoon and then return to the White House to host British Prime Minister Boris Johnson for a bilateral meeting. 

On Wednesday, Biden will host a virtual COVID-19 summit as part of UNGA – again from the White House. 

On Friday, Biden will host the first in-person Quad summit with the leaders of Australia, India and Japan. 

On Tuesday, he’s meeting Austalian Prime Minister Scott Morrison on the sidelines of the summit. 

‘He couldn’t do all three on one day and do the Quad Summit, and so he’ll see Prime Minister Morrison tomorrow in New York,’ the White House official said Monday.  

He’ll then have one-on-one meetings with India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga on Friday as well.      

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