At the United Nations General Assembly, a platform President Trump once decried but now bestrode, he threatened to totally destroy North Korea and mocked Kim Jong-un, saying “Rocket man is on a suicide mission for himself”. He accused Iran of being intent on destabilising the Middle East, and denounced socialism. It only brought “anguish, devastation and failure”, he said. It was a bellicose performance, just minutes after UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres had urged statesmanship.