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NARCISSISTIC is not a complimentary term, but analysts believe United States president Donald Trump has such a personality trait, that he is marked by self-love and self-absorption; unrealistic views about his own qualities, with little regard for others. No wonder he has earned himself a moniker “Commander-in-Grief”.

The US leader also has a serious problem with relational connectivity. His pride is of a man who thinks he is on a divine mission to cleanse out everything that is wrong with the United States.

“I will defend America’s interests above all else,” he said last Tuesday, including building a wall along the border with Mexico, moving out of NAFTA, NATO, imposing immigration restrictions, pulling out of the Paris Climate Accord, shredding the Iran nuclear deal, pulling the US Embassy out of Cuba and more.

Since he entered the White House, we have learnt that Trump is the United States’ new normal, and the world might as well get used to his bravado and pride and look elsewhere for mutual friends. When the leader of the most powerful nation in the world displays repugnant personality traits — using epithets willy-nilly — then the world is in serious trouble.

Trump’s maiden speech at the 72nd United Nations General Assembly was not only meant to bully other nations, but he wanted to whip them into admission to his “America First” mantra.

When the US leader in full view of world leaders and watched by billions others, threatened to “totally destroy” North Korea, not only did he show a lack of understanding of international diplomacy, but it showed his disrespect of the UN General Assembly and the UN Charter on which it was founded.

President Mugabe rightly likened him to the biblical Goliath, who never realised that with that humongous stature and armour, his fake fame could be brought to an end by a 17-year-old untrained soldier — David: “Some of us were embarrassed, if not frightened, by what appeared to be the return of the biblical Giant Gold Goliath,” President Mugabe said.

He cautioned the US bully: “And may I say to the United States president, Mr Trump, please blow your trumpet — blow your trumpet in a musical way towards the values of unity, peace, co-operation, togetherness, dialogue, which we have always stood for and which are well-writ in our very sacred document, the Charter of the United Nations.”

We were, however, amazed at the contrast between Trump and his wife, for the day after the “Armageddon” speech, US First Lady Melania Trump also delivered a speech to other first ladies, where she condemned bullying of children. She urged parents and leaders globally to “come together for the good of our children because through them, our future will be defined”.

She also said, “no child should ever feel hungry, stalked, frightened, terrorised, bullied, isolated or afraid, with nowhere to turn”.

We never doubted Trump’s irrationality, especially when he tried to pick fights with allies and non-allies alike because we thought he was bringing a new dimension to the Big Brother syndrome, but the relentless attacks on other nations — the DPRK, Iran, China, Russia — is taking things too far.

You cannot help, but think the US leader is spoiling for a real fight. Rhetoric is a useful tool in conflict resolution, but it ceases to be when opposing sides continue to trade insults.Trump’s lack of knowledge of and failure to articulate global issues have exposed his foibles.

When the DPRK responded on Saturday, they did not have kind words for Trump, reminding him that; “For more than seven decades since the foundation of the UN, no chief executives or diplomats including the preceding US presidents have openly called for the obliteration of another state at the UNGA,” said the DPRK’s top diplomat at the UN.

A leader must be respected, and nine months since he came to power, not only has he gone to great lengths selling his prejudiced America First notion, but he has also become a serious danger to international peaceful co-existence. Through his reckless rhetoric on Twitter, Trump has escalated tensions with real and perceived enemies, especially the DPRK leader.

The name-calling that Trump thrives on will never solve the myriad problems faced by the world, the US included. Climate change is a reality, and what is happening in his backyard does not need rocket science to confirm.

Africa also feels insulted that it brought up the need for UN reform years ago, but before this chapter is closed to everyone’s satisfaction, Trump was bringing his own laundry list of UN reforms, which did not take cognisance of Africa’s calls. Finally, there is the real danger of igniting a nuclear war, and the sooner the UN acts for the sake of humanity, the better.