Steve Bannon began the year as a political genius with the ear of the US president and a global media empire at his command. Today, barely two weeks later, the 64-year-old is out of work and out of favour, with no more access to the White House, no more journalists to do his bidding and the new nickname of “Sloppy Steve”.

Even in this Trumpian age of wildly improbable falls from grace the downfall of the former banker who cultivated an image as “President Bannon” has been breathtaking to behold.

Even more astonishing: Bannon, renowned for his media savvy, disdain for metropolitan elites and unshakable loyalty to the 45th president, was the author of his own demise after an amateurishly unguarded comment — about Donald