Secretary of State Marco Rubio began the United Nations General Assembly, a major week in diplomacy, by ringing the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange on Monday.
The ceremony serves as a time marker, signaling the start and closing of an official session. The bells were first used at the exchange in the 1870s, using a Chinese gong before it was later replaced by a brass bell, according to the NYSE.
Rubio joined state officials for the ceremony. As talks of midterm elections and discussions surrounding 2028 presidential candidates continue, Rubio has been suggested as a top contender, although he has not announced any intention to run.
World leaders are gathering in New York for the 81st session of the U.N. General Assembly. With wars in the Middle East and Ukraine, the development of artificial intelligence, and tariff wars, there are plenty of high-stakes topics on the table.
The general debate is set to begin Tuesday and continue through Sept. 28, with nearly 130 world leaders expected to attend.
WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT THE 2026 UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
President Donald Trump is scheduled to speak on Tuesday. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced Sunday that he plans to meet with Trump while in New York as the Ukraine-Russia war continues. Zelensky and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian are scheduled to speak on Wednesday.
Notable world leaders such as Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin are not expected to attend, although Xi plans to visit Trump in Washington later in the week.