In 1487 William Caxton wrote “according to an old proverb he that is not mannered is no man for manners maketh the man.” Now, it is as pointless to berate Donald Trump for the absence of manners as it is to berate Vlad the Impaler for cruelty, or indeed, water for being wet.

The White House press conference, however, went far beyond bad manners. It was a trap set by President Trump and Vice President Vance (VP) to goad, belittle and embarrass President Zelensky, an attempt to present him as an ungrateful recipient of US support whilst simultaneously demanding more for his country.

The Vice President led the attack with an inappropriate and untrue claim that President Valentsky had never thanked the US for their support to date. When he pointed out that he had indeed thanked them many times the VP shifted ground to he hadn’t done it today in the Oval office. Petty? Duplicitous? Inappropriate? I think we can award Vance a hat trick on this.

Putting rhetorical questions to him, making false statements about him and his country, not allowing him to answer, shouting over him, pointing and waging their fingers at him like an outraged school master of yesteryear. Their behaviour was shameful. Even on the grounds of basic common decency and manners there actions plumbed new depths of outrageous behaviour. It will be interesting to see what the bulk of American citizens felt about this extraordinary display by their Commander in Chief, the representative of their country.

As part of a diplomatic process the angry hectoring was something that has not been see since the start of World War Two when the doctrine of “might is right” was last so obviously in evidence. They clearly reveal President Trumps approach to dealing with those who have little or no power. Or indeed, to those who simply have less power than the most powerful country in the world.

But then it seems strange that precisely because of the power disparity between the two nations it was felt necessary to behave in such a loud and aggressive manner. President Roosevelt was often heard to say in relation to diplomacy that you should “speak softly and carry a big stick”. The US has the biggest stick on the planet. Why did they have to behave in that way? Is it simply Trump’s mercurial character or were they frightened of something?

Whatever the answer, there is not excuse for the behaviour.

There are a lot of people around the world trying to excuse, explain or even, simply make sense of what comes out of the Trump White House. It is difficult to do this as often what comes out of his mouth appears to be the first thing that pops into his head, with little engagement with the brain on the way through.

There are, however, some worrying areas of consistency, and the relationship with President Putin is one of those. It seems clear that there was a concerted effort by the Kremlin to support Trump’s first candidacy in 2016 with fake news, social media campaigns. When in office Trump met with Putin in Helsinki and afterwards defended the Russian leader against claims by the US’s own intelligence services that he had authorised such a covert programme of social media support for Trump. Indeed Trump made a habit of private meetings with Putin without advisors present and keeping the translators notes of the meetings during his first term in office.

After a recent discussion with Putin he came out rehearsing Russian talking point about the war in Ukraine including the charge that Ukraine started it? A classic example of newspeak. His actions since culminating in todays suspension of military aid make clear who’s side President Trump is on in the current war. There can be no mistake, he is not an impartial arbiter.

Few things in Trump world are consistent. But all those that are, are inimical to the interests of democracies wherever they are, to equality of any kind, and, without hyperbole, the existential future of the planet.

Europe may have to speak to President Trump with a soft voice, but they need to work furiously to build a big stick. Trump is not an unreliable ally that is confused or does not really understand the implications of his actions. Rather, he displays all the characteristics of an enemy and he is certainly aligning himself with all those that are opposed to liberal democratic values.

If anyone thinks a strategy of, wait until he is gone, is sensible, I think they underestimate where Trump might be taking America. We are less than three months into the new Administration and constitutional conventions have been breached willy nilly, indeed some of the clauses of the Constitution have been challenged, like that guaranteeing American citizenship to anyone born in America.

Article 2 Section 1 of the Constitution of the United States confirms that, once elected President, “He shall hold his Office during the Term of Four years,…” The Constitution, did not set a limit on the number of terms an individual can hold the office. Amendment 22 however, ratified on 27 February 1951 states, “No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice…”

If the current presidency does not collapse under the weight of it own hubris, which is a real possibility, I fear Amendment 22 might be subject to challenge. Indeed it may simply be ignored by an incumbent who has filled all the key posts of government and the judiciary with yes men, including the leadership of the armed forces, which already seems to have started. The doctrine of “might is right ” may be applied at home as well as abroad.

The European political elite seem to be focused on placating Trump. One can only hope this is to buy time for them to establish a credible set of bargaining chips to defend, democratic, liberal and humane values. No one should underestimate the threat he represents to civilised order nor to the future viability of the planet as a place for human beings to thrive. There has never been a more dangerous challenge to the world than a Trump presidency.

There is a saying oft quoted by parents and teachers to their children. “Good manners cost nothing but mean everything.” If Trump ever heard this I am pretty sure he stopped listening as soon as he got to “cost nothing”. Anything that costs nothing must be worthless in Trump’s transactional world. No wonder values pass beneath his radar without causing a flicker.