Why bother rolling out the red carpet? There's no courting King Donald

People in government are already beginning to shiver that it will be "the mother of all nightmares", and not just in terms of the security.

- Andrew Rawnsley

They know that the Britons who come out to wave a star-spangled banner are going to be vastly outnumbered by those who take to the streets in protest. To the delight of blimp manufacturers, Donald Trump has declared that September will be the month when Charles will have the pleasure of keeping King Donald regally entertained and police officers can expect to earn bags of overtime. His pre-emptive announcement from the White House blindsided Downing Street and Buckingham Palace, neither of which have officially confirmed when he's coming. Come he surely will, though, because disinviting the US president is regarded as inconceivable at No 10.

The unprecedented and unashamedly sycophantic offer of a second state visit was the product of Downing Street's obsession with the question: how do we tranquillise a more aggressive America? As the weeks of Trump-induced turmoil rack up, this increasingly looks like the wrong question. Sir Keir Starmer would be better to ask: how do we respond to a weaker America?

Trump's first 100 days back in the White House are an unrivalled example of how rapidly a manic leader who surrounds himself with fools and fanatics can recklessly unravel a mighty country's greatest strengths. His assault on the global order is being ruinous for the reputation and the reach of the United States itself.