America is back.

Turns out that beleaguered and forgotten Americans aren’t the only ones in dire need of a strong dose of straight talk from the U.S. president.

After a decade of global apology, squirrelly deals and appeasement of the world’s worst actors, America has returned to the ramparts of its founding ideals, unapologetically backed — of course — by the 16-inch guns of an armada of battleships.

President Trump strode into the United Nations this week to announce that the world’s fiercest warrior for peace is back. The apology tour is over.

First, the pleasantries.

“It has just been announced that we will be spending almost $700 billion on our military and defense,” Mr. Trump warned the assembled guests in New York from countries around the world. “Our military will soon be the strongest it has ever been.”

Then down to the business of naming names.

If the U.S. is forced to defend itself or its allies, “we will have no choice but to totally destroy North Korea,” Mr. Trump explained in simple terms to the staid global debate forum, which is more accustomed to bromides and lectures about global warming.

And just in case anyone missed his moral certitude in the matter, Mr. Trump added: “If the righteous many don’t confront the wicked few, then evil will triumph.”

The North Korean regime, he said, is a “band of criminals.” Of despot Kim Jong-un, he said: “Rocket Man is on a suicide mission for himself and for his regime.”

Unflinchingly, the president vowed to act alone if needed.

Truly, America is back.

And America is back in the form of a highly “unpresidential” figure, we are told. Mr. Trump is unpredictable, crazy, unhinged, dangerous, according to the media. A self-serving, brash negotiator.

“As president, I will always put America first, just like you as the leaders of your countries will always — and should always — put your countries first.”

With that, Mr. Trump was done with being politically correct.

He excoriated the United Nations not only for being a blood-sucking mooch, but also for being a failure in its stated mission. The U.S., he complained, is one of 193 countries in the United Nations, yet it pays 22 percent of the entire U.N. budget.

“In fact, we pay far more than anybody realizes. The United States bears an unfair cost burden,” Mr. Trump said, before delivering an eviscerating condemnation of the vaunted United Nations.

“But to be fair, if it could actually accomplish all of its stated goals, especially the goal of peace, this investment would easily be well worth it.”

He even called out members of the august body for openly undermining the very freedoms and civilization that the U.N. claims to stand for.

“Rogue regimes represented in this body not only support terrorists, but threaten other nations and their own people with the most destructive weapons known to humanity,” Mr. Trump thundered. “Authority and authoritarian powers seek to collapse the values, the systems and alliances that prevented conflict and tilted the world toward freedom since World War II.”

What a refreshing — exhilarating — departure from Mr. Trump’s predecessor, standing at the same lectern one year ago.

“We can only realize the promise of this institution’s founding to replace the ravages of war with cooperation if powerful nations like my own accept constraint,” President Obama told the same crowd in the final year of his disastrous presidency.

“I’m convinced in the long run giving up some freedom of action — not giving up our ability to protect ourselves or pursue core interests — but binding ourselves to international rules, over the long term, enhances our security.”

Well, if theocratic thugocracy Iran, savage ISIS, nuclear North Korea and run-amok Russia are the fruits of Mr. Obama’s strategy, then perhaps it is time for a new American sheriff in town.

That sheriff has arrived.

• Charles Hurt can be reached at [email protected] and on Twitter via @charleshurt.

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