Obama's speech, taking place a couple hours ahead of the Russian president's, slammed Washington's adversaries, including Russia, while also taking aim at Obama's political rivals at home, wrapping up with self-assured message of hope on immigration, women's rights and education. The speech has already been described by pundits as being "passive aggressive" and "at times defensive and accusatory."
Twitter users responded immediately, some focusing on the funny peripheral details of the speech, with literally hundreds of tweets focusing exclusively on a photo of US Secretary of State John Kerry, who was apparently caught yawning during the POTUS's speech. Others joked that the president should take out his anger on Russia by engaging Putin in a cage fight later today.
RT_com: Not exciting enough: John #Kerry caught yawning during #Obama’s address to #UN http://t.co/pR1QVr5XDj #U… pic.twitter.com/GsV8jd6laV
— Anonymous (@CovertAnonymous) 28 сентября 2015
I want to See @POTUS and #Putin CAGE FIGHT TODAY. #mma #tagteam #cagefight
— NoLefty2016 (@NoLefty2016) 28 сентября 2015
Other commentators had more insightful criticisms for the president, accusing Obama of hypocrisy and double standards over the differences between his words and US policy, both at home and abroad.
Obama said "Let's not abandon the pursuit to peace". What do my followers think and feel about this? Who is thinking Hypocrisy? I am. #RT
— Snowden Our Hero (@NO2NSA) 28 сентября 2015
Obama wants 'tyrant' Assad gone but still cosies up to Saudis. Anyone one else smell the hypocrisy?: http://t.co/cM1RkqxI6J
— Paul Nuttall (@paulnuttallukip) 28 сентября 2015
"Real diplomacy" = Let US overthrow democratically elected govt of Ukraine & learn to live with it. https://t.co/rDOVrnDz4d
— Justin Raimondo (@JustinRaimondo) 28 сентября 2015
#US never violated the sovereignity of other countries… via Angelina Siard #UN #Putin #Obama pic.twitter.com/zPDW2gR6r8
— Victor Kuhnovets (@vicktop55) 28 сентября 2015
Others still focused their criticisms on the president's stubborn support for anti-government rebels in Syria, despite the growingly popular notion that the collapse of the Assad government would lead to a power vacuum which would be filled by radical Islamist groups, including ISIL.
"He's killing his own people" — they said the same thing about Saddam Hussein — & look what happened. https://t.co/lQbfgOxwsa
— Justin Raimondo (@JustinRaimondo) 28 сентября 2015
Naturally, a sprinkling of praise also emerged for the president's "powerful," "impassioned defense of democracy," including, apparently, from the Ukrainian president.
Chris Matthews Compares Obama U.N. Speech to Nelson Mandela: "He will become a presidential leader who will become a global figure."
— Ezequiel R. (@Niino_Rosario) 28 сентября 2015
"I thought the president's remarks were very strong," Ukrainian president #Poroshenko said of Obama's #UNGA speech: http://t.co/bwKpBtXAs1
— Polly Mosendz (@polly) 28 сентября 2015
Putin's speech, highly anticipated by both supporters and opponents of the Russian leader, definitely managed to get people's attention, even if the Ukrainian delegation attempted to shake things up by leaving the room before the speech even began.
lmao i just found out Ukrainian delegation left the room before Putin even give his speech yall angry as hell huh
— syazwan (@SyazwanShahrul) 28 сентября 2015
This is bizarre… #Putin is correct calling us out! Putin: 'Do you realize what you have done?' http://t.co/SoTGm74J30
— CW Roady (@CWRoady) 28 сентября 2015
Many users were convinced that Putin's speech was "more direct" and "sensible" than that of the American president.
really looking forward to President #Putin speech, will actually be more direct than @POTUS and will give a clearer picture of the world
— Shubhra Sasmit (@spicysid20) 28 сентября 2015
Well at least Putin can come up with a sensible speech.
— Milli (@CelineMayor) 28 сентября 2015
Hoping to instill reason and sanity in the heart of #US leadership, #Putin speech: sincere, to work for common good https://t.co/BLjDMz6XBC
— Sky Flower (@skyflower627) 28 сентября 2015
Putin puts up a very impressive speech. The moment when he looked up & said ' Do you realize what you have done'?
— SULTAN-UL-ARFEEN (@SULTANULARFEEN) 28 сентября 2015
I Found Putin's Speech Far More Interesting And Correct Than Obama's..UN Today..
— Lady Of The Kingdom (@Chlanandria) 28 сентября 2015
Others focused their praise on Putin's remarks regarding the origins of the extremism and terrorism plaguing the Middle East, along with his proposal to create a broad global coalition to fight the global scourge.
#unpopularopinion Putin's #UNGA speech was good. obv biased towards Syria but he spoke truth re rise/creation of contemporary terrorism.
— I come from Somalia. (@geekinthejungle) 28 сентября 2015
Putin's speech at the #UNGA was a message Obama: I told you so. (told you not to bomb #Libya, arm fighters in #Syria, expand NATO, etc.)
— Farah Stockman (@fstockman) 28 сентября 2015
#Putin at #UN: We need a 'broad alliance against #terrorism, just like the one against Hitler'… http://t.co/WvL0tT7T4L
— Santos R. Victorero (@SantosVictorero) 28 сентября 2015
Did #Putin suggest in his #UN speech that we need #GIJoe and #OktoberGaurd in #Syria? Elite international antiterrorist taskforce FTW.
— Karan Seraph (@karanseraph) 28 сентября 2015
Naturally, the Russian leader also had his share of detractors, some of them basing their comments on witty commentary made earlier by sarcastic US media.
“@washingtonpost: The official 2015 Putin Speech bingo card http://t.co/ysVyIzmMOe pic.twitter.com/c3e2a0ObGv
— Menzi Kulati (@menzikulati) 28 сентября 2015
Yes, yes. Maidan was a NATO orchestrated coup leading to civil war in Ukraine & sanctions interfere w free market. Same old, same old. #UNGA
— Ariana Gic Perry (@ArianaGicPerry) 28 сентября 2015
When V. Putin says “We can no longer tolerate the current state of affairs in the world", take notice… and worry. http://t.co/b6cwi89DmA
— Bryan William Jones (@BWJones) 28 сентября 2015
In any case, if the Russian and American leaders had a chance to take a look at some of the internet's reaction to their speeches ahead of their meeting later this afternoon, they would be guaranteed some chuckle-worthy moments, along with at least a few serious points to ponder.
We're can't wait for another awkward meeting between Obama and Putin http://t.co/lUDHNuAUQN pic.twitter.com/H0cqoU2vHr
— Mashable (@mashable) 28 сентября 2015
