Donald Trump spent Friday, Saturday and Sunday railing against NFL players who choose to protest during the national anthem.

They should be “fired”, he said. “Total disrespect,” he wailed. “Sons of bitches,” he cried. Trump’s tirade only ended when the Pittsburgh Penguins agreed to join him at the White House.

The president’s 48-hour lambasting did at least display a hitherto unseen attention span. But there are more important ways he could be spending his time.