I was too young to comprehend John F. Kennedy’s inauguration address when it was delivered in 1961. But the words he delivered in that address resonated with me throughout my formative years. ‘Ask not what your country can do for you … ask what you can do for your country.’ They were poignant words of advice from a very wise leader on the day he became President. Those few simple words shaped my life and when the time came for me to serve my country I became a Peace Corps Volunteer.

Forty-four times a newly elected President of the United States has addressed the people of America and has offered guidance, wisdom and hope. I heard none of that in the address of the 45th President.

I have been struggling to find any basic qualities of leadership or morality in Donald J. Trump but on inauguration day I wanted to be open minded and give him the benefit of my doubts. Surely, the tide would turn with his inauguration address and surely all of those nasty things he said on the campaign trail would be but distant memories. The election of Donald J. Trump left a very sour taste in my mouth and I was really hoping for a good dose of mouthwash with this inauguration address. I listened … but my opinion of Donald J. Trump did not change in the slightest.

I think of John F. Kennedy who encouraged me to serve my country overseas and show the world that the United States was concerned for the welfare of all world citizens.

I think of Barack Obama who knew that by helping to stimulate the economies of emerging nations, that the United States would prosper even more.

And I think of those young people, like I once was, who can have their lives shaped around words delivered by our leaders.

I contrast what Presidents Kennedy and Obama have said in their inauguration addresses to that Donald J. Trump’s repeating riff ‘America First, America First, America First’. To me it’s a throwback to the decade of greed, the 1980s when it was all about me, me, me and greed, greed, greed. Forget the poor and disadvantaged people of the world, forget those who flee untold horrors in their homelands, forget the labourers in developing countries who try to eke out a meagre living with the hopes of trade with the wealthiest nation on earth.

The American people have every right to be concerned about jobs and the welfare of their own families. That’s indisputable. But that’s campaign trail talk. We’ve heard enough of that for 18 months.

This was the opportunity for Donald J. Trump to speak to the world. The opportunity to not only heal wounds amongst a divisive American population but a world population who is becoming increasingly more concerned with Donald J. Trump’s isolationist rhetoric. Instead of words like ‘unity’, ‘hope’ and ‘optimism’, the only words ringing in my brain after that speech is ‘America First’.

Donald J. Trump did not inspire me to help make the world a better place. Donald J. Trump did not give me hope that there would be world peace and harmony amongst people of all races and religions. But Donald J. Trump did instil fear in me.

‘America First’. Powerful words by a man who aspires to lead the world.