STARRING DONALD TRUMP – AT 11:32 A.M. ET:  The president made his debut speech before the UN General Assembly this morning.  And...surprise...he was Donald Trump.

Although the Washington establishment no doubt prayed to the god of their choice for a "new" Trump, much like the fabulously failed Barack Obama, they got the real Trump, with some smooth diplomacy thrown in around the edges.  From Fox:   

New York (CNN ) President Donald Trump warned Tuesday that the US would "totally destroy North Korea" if forced to defend itself or its allies.

"The United States has great strength and patience, but if it is forced to defend itself or its allies, we will have no choice but to totally destroy North Korea," Trump said during his first address to the UN General Assembly.

"It is time for North Korea to realize that its denuclearization is its only responsible future," Trump said.

Trump also warned that Kim Jong Un -- whom he again referred to as "rocket man" -- "is on a suicide mission for himself."

"Rocket Man is on a suicide mission for himself," he said.

Trump's strong words came after he made the case that North Korea is a "country that imperils the world" and said that it is in no country's interest that North Korea continue on its current path of nuclear and ballistic missile development.

COMMENT:  John Bolton called this speech Trump's best, and I think he may be right.  He laid it right on the line to the UN that there's a new administration in Washington, and it intends to solve problems. 

Read the whole thing.

Reaction is coming in, with the usual suspects bashing Trump.  But reaction at the UN, at least thus far, is surprisingly muted.  Delegates actually applauded Trump's comments on Iran, and even his remark that he would take care of America first.  We'll have more on this.

September 19, 2017