The man who many believe will secure the Republican nomination for the presidency is facing a series of criminal charges.

The wellbeing of the sitting, octogenarian president is a source of concern, while a scandal over the business dealings of his son Hunter grows more troubling as more details come to light.

With the presidential election a little more than a year away, the American political system has become intensely dysfunctional, incapable of rational debate, and struggling to choose serious candidates for its highest office.

The trouble is, this turmoil could hardly come at a more perilous moment for foreign policy and the global economy. From driving growth, to “de-risking” from China, to supporting Ukraine, the West needs American leadership more than ever.

The circus that surrounds Donald Trump was back last week. The former president appeared in court to face a fresh set of charges that he conspired to overturn the result of the 2020 election. To his critics, events of January 2021 amounted to an attempted “coup d’etat” that should disqualify him from ever again holding office.

To his supporters, the charges are politically motivated show trials designed to prevent the people’s champion from running for office.

If he is found guilty, he could face years in prison. But if he is elected president before the trial concludes, he could conceivably call off the prosecution, or indeed pardon himself.