I’m still astonished by the revelation that the American Constitution gives so much unchecked power (as it seems at present) to a single person. George III had nothing like the same authority; and some of his royal predecessors met gruesome fates when they tried to assume it, over the heads of Parliament.

It is even more surprising when we learn, as we are expecting to do later today, that this power extends over foreign countries too. (We’re still waiting for his announcement on tariffs.) Again, that would be unthinkable in most other ‘democracies’. It’s no wonder that Trump’s closest soul-mates today are Putin and Netanyahu; who must feel that they’ve been given carte blanche to pursue any policy they choose.

I would like to feel a constitutional revolution coming on. Or a civil war (17th-century English style). But probably not.