Trump hosts lunch with U.N. Security Council for talks on N. Korea, terrorism - CBS News

President Trump hosted a lunch at the White House on Monday with the United Nations Security Council. U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Nikki Haley and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson were both in attendance and flanked the president as he delivered remarks to reporters before the lunch. 

The president said the group would be discussing the administration's cooperation on a "range of security challenges including the de-nuking of North Korea very importantly, countering Iran's destabilizing activities in the Middle East, ending the Syrian conflict and confronting terrorism."

Mr. Trump said he was "proud" to work with the UNSC, saying "we've already done a tremendous number of coalition buildings" adding that the U.S. is "leading on the global stage to renew this founding principle of sovereignty." 

He added of the international body, "the power and respect it has all over the world is very, very excellent, but there's much work that we have to together do."

The meeting with Haley and Tillerson came on the eve of Mr. Trump's first State of the Union address, which will include foreign policy issues.

According to a senior administration official who previewed the speech in a background call to reporters, the president will emphasize rebuilding the military, and promoting peace through strength. He will also discuss a return to clarity in who America's friends and adversaries are.

The president told reporters during the lunch that the group would also be discussing efforts in defeating the Taliban in Afghanistan saying "I don't think we're prepared to talk right now" with regard to the terrorist group, calling it a "whole different fight over there."

"We don't want to talk with the Taliban, there may be a time but it's going to be a long time," he added. - More

Trump hosts lunch with U.N. Security Council for talks on N. Korea ...