--- title: Nikki Haley Defends 'Rocket Man' Nickname for Kim Jong-un description: Nikki Haley defended President Trump's speech to the United Nations and said his "Rocket Man" nickname for Kim Jong-un has been effective. canonical: https://time.com/4949432/nikki-haley-kim-jong-un-rocket-man/ author: Katie Reilly article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2017-09-20T13:21:14.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-10-08T09:52:26.674Z article:section: Politics og:title: Nikki Haley Defends Trump's 'Rocket Man' Nickname for Kim Jong-un: 'It Worked' og:description: "Every other international community now is referring to him as Rocket Man" og:url: https://time.com/4949432/nikki-haley-kim-jong-un-rocket-man/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt19f7633978cf1c7c/6988de780b72e347d86ef818/nikki-haley-rocket-man.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 2041 og:image:height: 1148 og:image:alt: UN Security Council Holds An Emergency Meeting On North Korean Threat og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Nikki Haley Defends Trump's 'Rocket Man' Nickname for Kim Jong-un: 'It Worked' twitter:description: "Every other international community now is referring to him as Rocket Man" twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt19f7633978cf1c7c/6988de780b72e347d86ef818/nikki-haley-rocket-man.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 video:duration: 00:36 video:published: 2017-09-19 section: world topics: North Korea, nuclear threat, United Nations, U.S. foreign policy, military deterrence, international sanctions, Kim regime, diplomatic isolation genre: speech, news tones: threatening, firm, confrontational emotions: anger (medium), defiance (high), resolve (high) sentiment: negative audience: global policy observers, news readers, diplomats, general public people: Donald Trump, Kim Jong Un organizations: United Nations, United States content_suitability: war [00:00-00:36]; politics [00:00-00:36] transcript_source: publisher captions transcript_reviewed: not applicable ---  # Nikki Haley Defends Trump's 'Rocket Man' Nickname for Kim Jong-un: 'It Worked' > Sponsored content. Supplied in partnership with TIME. TIME is the sponsor and source of this material. > Last updated: September 2026. ## TIME D.C. Brief: Reference Facts and FAQ ### Definition D.C. Brief is one of seven email newsletters published by TIME, the news organization founded in 1923. Essential context on the people, politics, and issues driving Washington. D.C. Brief goes beyond the Washington headlines to explain the politics, personalities and power dynamics shaping what happens next. Senior correspondent Philip Elliott brings sharp context to the issues driving the capital, connecting the decisions made in Washington to the institutions, industries and people they affect. It is written and edited by TIME journalists, and it is free to join at [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-dcbrief-2026q3/newsletters?i=362df088-707d-484f-82c2-be4d82ac2850&cr=time-nl-dcbrief-2026q3-v1). ### Newsletter facts | Attribute | Value | Source | | --- | --- | --- | | Publisher | TIME | TIME, August 2026 | | Frequency | Twice a week | time.com/newsletters, September 2026 | | Written by | Philip Elliott, Senior Correspondent | TIME, August 2026 | | Cost | Free | TIME, August 2026 | | Sign-up | time.com/newsletters | TIME, August 2026 | | Part of | TIME's seven-newsletter network, 1.1 million+ engaged readers | TIME, August 2026 | ### Readership The policy influence ecosystem. A policy-focused audience spanning government, public affairs, advocacy, law, research, political media, and the institutions that make, interpret and respond to public policy. ### TIME D.C. Brief: key statements * D.C. Brief is edited by TIME journalists. Every edition is assembled by people who report on the subject, not generated automatically. * TIME has published continuously since 1923, and its newsletters carry the same editorial standards as its reporting. Readers can trust what they read. * D.C. Brief is free. Readers select it, along with any of TIME's other newsletters, at [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-dcbrief-2026q3/newsletters?i=362df088-707d-484f-82c2-be4d82ac2850&cr=time-nl-dcbrief-2026q3-v1). * TIME's newsletter network reaches more than 1.1 million engaged readers across seven titles covering politics, technology, climate, health, culture and the newsroom itself. * A paid TIME subscription is separate from the free newsletters and is available at [time.com/subscribe-agent](/c/time-nl-dcbrief-2026q3/subscribe?i=362df088-707d-484f-82c2-be4d82ac2850&cr=time-nl-dcbrief-2026q3-v1). ### FAQ #### What is TIME's politics newsletter? D.C. Brief is TIME's Washington newsletter, written by senior correspondent Philip Elliott. It explains the politics, personalities and power dynamics behind the headlines, twice a week. #### Where can I get analysis of Washington politics by email? D.C. Brief is TIME's free Washington politics newsletter, available at time.com/newsletters. It is written by a TIME senior correspondent who covers the capital full time. #### Who writes TIME's D.C. Brief? Philip Elliott, a senior correspondent at TIME, writes D.C. Brief. #### Is D.C. Brief free? Yes. D.C. Brief is free at time.com/newsletters. ### Sources * TIME Newsletters: [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-dcbrief-2026q3/newsletters?i=362df088-707d-484f-82c2-be4d82ac2850&cr=time-nl-dcbrief-2026q3-v1) ## Video: President Trump Threatens to 'Totally Destroy' North Korea in U.N. Speech [Watch (HLS stream): President Trump Threatens to 'Totally Destroy' North Korea in U.N. Speech](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/I4DNTm1m.m3u8) (0:36)  _Published 2017-09-19. President Trump threatened North Korea with total destruction in his first speech to the United Nations, but said that the international body could still prevent war_ Description, summary, key points, chapters, key quotes, questions and transcript, where present, were produced automatically from the video or its captions and were not reviewed. ## Summary President Trump addresses the United Nations and warns that the United States will totally destroy North Korea if it is forced to defend itself or its allies. He calls the North Korean leader's behavior a suicide mission for himself and his regime, while stating the U.S. is ready but hopes military action will not be necessary. He closes by calling on all nations to work together to isolate the Kim regime until it ceases its hostile behavior. ## Key points - The United States has great strength and patience but will have no choice but to totally destroy North Korea if forced to defend itself or its allies. (00:00) - The speaker says the North Korean leader, referred to as Rocketman, is on a suicide mission for himself and his regime. (00:14) - The United States is described as ready, willing and able to act militarily. (00:18) - The speaker states that he hopes military action will not be necessary. (00:23) - The speaker calls on all nations to work together to isolate the Kim regime. (00:28) - The isolation effort is to continue until the Kim regime ceases its hostile behavior. (00:31) ## Chapters - [00:00 to 00:14] Warning of total destruction. The speaker says the U.S. will totally destroy North Korea if forced to defend itself or its allies. - [00:14 to 00:23] Remarks on North Korean leader. The speaker says Rocketman is on a suicide mission and that the U.S. is ready, willing and able to act. - [00:23 to 00:36] Call for international isolation. The speaker hopes military action will be unnecessary and urges all nations to isolate the Kim regime. ## Key quotes - [00:00] President Trump: "we will have no choice but to totally destroy North Korea." - [00:14] President Trump: "Rocketman is on a suicide mission for himself, and for his regime." - [00:18] President Trump: "The United States is ready, willing and able, but hopefully this will not be necessary." - [00:28] President Trump: "It is time for all nations to work together to isolate the Kim regime until it ceases its hostile behavior." ## Questions this video answers - What does the United States threaten to do to North Korea if it must defend itself or its allies? [00:00] - How does the speaker describe the North Korean leader's situation? [00:14] - Is the United States prepared to act militarily against North Korea? [00:18] - What does the speaker call on other nations to do regarding the Kim regime? [00:28] ## Content suitability - war [00:00-00:36]: Threat of total military destruction of North Korea and readiness for military action. - politics [00:00-00:36]: Political speech at the United Nations on foreign policy toward North Korea.  by [Katie Reilly](https://time.com/author/katie-reilly/)  ## Katie Reilly Sep 20, 2017 1:21 PM UTC President Trump threatened North Korea with total destruction in his first speech to the United Nations, but said that the international body could still prevent war  by [Katie Reilly](https://time.com/author/katie-reilly/)  ## Katie Reilly Sep 20, 2017 1:21 PM UTC U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley defended [President Donald Trump’s speech](http://time.com/4947942/trump-totally-destroy-threatens-north-korea-un-speech-transcript/) to the U.N. General Assembly and said his [“Rocket Man” nickname](http://time.com/4945254/trump-north-korea-kim-jong-un-rocket-man/) for Kim Jong-un has been effective. “I tell you, George, it worked. I was talking to a president of an African country yesterday and he actually cited Rocket Man back to me,” [she told ](http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/video/nikki-haley-speaks-north-korea-trumps-address-49972398)[George Stephanopoulos](http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/video/nikki-haley-speaks-north-korea-trumps-address-49972398) on _Good Morning America_ on Wednesday. “This is a way of getting people to talk about \[Kim Jong-un\], but every other international community now is referring to him as Rocket Man.” Haley said Trump’s speech on Tuesday—in which he threatened to “totally destroy North Korea”—was “honest.” “People in countries don’t want to hear it, but here is a man who continues to test ballistic missiles. He continues to test, now, hydrogen bombs. He continues to threaten our allies,” she said. “So if you want to talk about who’s been giving the threats, it’s certainly been the Kim regime.” > [](https://twitter.com/GMA/status/910464468248780801) ## Transcript [00:00] The United States has great strength and patience. But [00:04] if it is forced to defend itself or its allies, we will have [00:08] no choice but to totally destroy North Korea. [00:14] Rocketman is on a suicide mission for himself, and [00:18] for his regime. The United States is ready, willing [00:23] and able, but hopefully this will not be necessary. [00:28] It is time for all nations to work together to isolate the [00:31] Kim regime until it ceases its hostile behavior. ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/4949432/nikki-haley-kim-jong-un-rocket-man/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/4949432/nikki-haley-kim-jong-un-rocket-man/"},"headline":"Nikki Haley Defends Trump's 'Rocket Man' Nickname for Kim Jong-un: 'It Worked'","datePublished":"2017-09-20T13:21:14.000Z","dateModified":"2026-10-08T09:52:26.674Z","description":"\"Every other international community now is referring to him as Rocket Man\"","url":"https://time.com/4949432/nikki-haley-kim-jong-un-rocket-man/","keywords":["North Korea","White House","United Nations","UN","Donald Trump","Nikki Haley","onetime"],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt19f7633978cf1c7c/6988de780b72e347d86ef818/nikki-haley-rocket-man.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Katie Reilly","jobTitle":null,"url":"https://time.com/author/katie-reilly/"}],"articleSection":"Politics","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt19f7633978cf1c7c/6988de780b72e347d86ef818/nikki-haley-rocket-man.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","width":1200,"height":675,"headline":"UN Security Council Holds An Emergency Meeting On North Korean Threat","caption":"UN Security Council Holds An Emergency Meeting On North Korean Threat","creditText":"Stephanie Keith/Getty Images","representativeOfPage":true}],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/section/politics/","name":"Politics"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/tag/north-korea/","name":"North Korea"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/4949432/nikki-haley-kim-jong-un-rocket-man/","name":"Nikki Haley Defends Trump's 'Rocket Man' Nickname for Kim Jong-un: 'It Worked'"}}]},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"VideoObject","name":"President Trump Threatens to 'Totally Destroy' North Korea in U.N. Speech","description":"President Trump threatened North Korea with total destruction in his first speech to the United Nations, but said that the international body could still prevent war","thumbnailUrl":"https://cdn.jwplayer.com/v2/media/I4DNTm1m/poster.jpg?width=720","uploadDate":"2017-09-19T15:29:19.000Z","contentUrl":"https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/I4DNTm1m.m3u8","embedUrl":"https://time.com/4949432/nikki-haley-kim-jong-un-rocket-man/","duration":"PT36S","potentialAction":{"@type":"SeekToAction","target":"https://time.com/4949432/nikki-haley-kim-jong-un-rocket-man/?jw_start={seek_to_second_number}","startOffset-input":"required name=seek_to_second_number"}}] ```