I’m becoming increasingly aware that we’re now entering a kind of American era. I was of course glad to see Artemis had splashed down safely on Friday night. I know I have been rather critical of it, but the fact remains the prospect of humanity returning to the moon is very exciting indeed. The thing is, alongside the coming Artemis missions, the US will host the world cup later this year, followed by the Olympics in LA in ’28. It thus seems that the world’s attention will be on America for some time.

I still remember what it was like living in London in 2012: the city seemed to have a unique buzz about it, as though it had suddenly become the centre of human existence. I doubt we’ll see another summer like that here again for a very long time; but I suspect Americans are now starting to feel something similar, not just in LA but across the country. As they gear up for the world cup this summer the sense that they are the focus of the entire world will only increase. To be fair, the arrogant tossers have always felt that way, but the coming events are only going to deepen it.

The problem is, this American Era couldn’t have come at a worse time. Under Trump, America has lost the worlds respect entirely; the country is seen as little more than a laughing stock and a bully. I can’t see it recovering the esteem it once held any time soon, casting a very dark shadow over the coming events. What should have been joyous and magnificent will now be seen as the arrogant spewings of a fascist country ruled by a megalomaniac charlatan; a bully who thinks he can trample over international law. As I’ve said before, that is something nobody wants to see, but unfortunately it’s what is coming over the next few years.