Trump's ode to nativism leaves little impression on delegates at UN who have seen it all before

Things did not start as planned for President Donald Trump in front of the United Nations General Assembly.

As he does at many of his campaign rallies, he arrived late and boasted of his administration’s unparalleled achievements. But instead of being greeted with the type of appreciative reaction he is used to from crowds of supporters, he received a rumble of chatter and then a chorus of laughter.

“I didn’t expect that reaction, but that’s OK,” Mr Trump said.

That moment set the tone for a speech that elicited only resignation from many of the world leaders and diplomats in attendance, who recognised an act they had seen before. He may have been speaking to the audience, but his message was aimed elsewhere.

Gone was the apparent rage from the pulpit that the president had displayed last year, when he admonished North Korea’s “Rocket Man”, Kim Jong-un, not least because of Mr Trump’s need to push his new relationship with Pyongyang’s leader.

Mr Trump did, however, see fit to attack another nation he had also railed at last year: Iran. Indeed, Tehran was the focus of much of the speech; although the president’s address also tapped into his broader plan to assert American independence.

From hitting out at globalism and pretty much everything the UN represents, to attacking the UN Human Rights Council and claiming the International Criminal Court was “not legitimate”, it was all straight out of the Trump playbook. His thoughts were with his supporter base. He is the representation of his supporters’ frustrations with the world – and let’s not forget there are crucial midterm elections mere weeks away.

Mr Trump believes he must project the image of a man unafraid to go it alone. And the rest of the world may be beginning to realise they can let him.

While there were some positive statements about the diversity of the UN and its potential from Mr Trump, the initial laughter, then relative silence with which the the speech was received showed many nations do not share the US president’s scepticism about global governance.

Outside of his own address to the assembly, Mr Trump’s name was barely heard – but his influence was greatly felt. Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani accused the US of “economic terrorism” over sanctions on his nation, and suggested – without using his name – that Mr Trump may not understand the consequences of his willingness to withdraw from the world.

The French president, Emmanuel Macron, was another to denounce Mr Trump’s policies without uttering his name. He suggested that multinationalism was needed – particularly when it comes to issues like the nuclear deal signed with Iran, from which Mr Trump has withdrawn, and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Mr Macron said France would no longer do trade deals with countries not involved with the Paris climate accords – another agreement from which Mr Trump seen fit to withdraw the US. The subtext? “We know we need you, but we will not bow to you.”

The rest of the UN knows American money, American clout and American acquiescence is vital on a range of key issues. But while Mr Trump is happy to isolate himself, and his nation, as much as he can, other countries are clearly starting to work around him whenever possible.

Rather than be buffeted by the winds of his isolationist rhetoric, many in the room were simply happy to let Mr Trump blow himself out.