Hours after attending the funeral of Pope Francis, he poses dressed as the Pope and posts the picture on Truth Social, the American social media platform. The world-wide shock and disapproval only served to encourage the clown and the picture was soon shared with the official White House social media accounts.

When speaking to reporters, he had already expressed a desire to be the next Pontiff.

Not being a Roman Catholic should not stand in his way.

It is doubtful if he is even a Christian, although the Great Pretender can be whatever he wants to be.

This whimsical escapade must have required help from White House staff. The costume had to be acquired and a photographer had to be arranged. Was nobody brave enough to counsel him against the idea? That would have been suicidal. Let’s not forget the dogma of Presidential Infallibility. And, if thwarted in a real ambition to be Pope, he could determine to buy the Vatican.

If a trickster had made up this episode, nobody would have believed it, but it is true and should be the final mail in the coffin of the notion of a State Visit to London.

The monarch and the nation should be spared the ignominy of honouring this clown.