It is, for the moment, the most famous photograph in the world. The stare, the scowl, the pursed lips with their downturn of sourness, the tanning tints muted along with the hair showing more white than orange. Tens of millions across America see the mugshot released on Friday, Sydney time, as a reckoning of justice and the rule of law. The former president’s allies and armies see it as an insult with the American experiment now no different from other republics, such as Argentina, that prosecute former leaders.

For all the political tragics in America, but especially for Republicans, who desperately want Joe Biden and the Democrats removed from power and punished for their scandalous persecution of Trump, the accused former president’s arrest in Georgia is being processed in the wake of the first Republican presidential debate in Wisconsin.

No matter how you cut it, the two-hour show only affirmed that there is no Republican candidate seeking to take Trump’s place able to dislodge his grip on renomination.

Because he was not on stage, Trump did not dominate the debate, but none of his rivals could dominate the Trump who is known so well. His former vice president, Mike Pence, was the most consistent, confident and experienced candidate on the stage. A true conservative at home, and the heir to Ronald Reagan’s peace through strength for America abroad. But the audience – a fulsome Trump audience – views Pence as a traitor for not doing what Trump insisted he do: obstruct and overturn the counting in Congress of the Electoral College votes that certified Joe Biden’s victory. Pence is toast.

Ron DeSantis broke no ground. He will not be separated from his talking points. His charisma gene – he won re-election in Florida as governor last year by 20 points – is in remission. DeSantis was to be “Trump without the baggage”, but he is trapped in the culture wars of woke ideology, school curricula and book bans, anti-gay and anti-trans fear, and is unable to transcend those battlefields and be an appealing alternative to Trump.

Nikki Haley, former governor of South Carolina, was rousing on abortion, budgets and taxes, and Ukraine. But in reaching her positions, she attacks what Trump did, especially on his huge tax cuts and deficit spending. She cannot win over Trump voters by attacking the boss.

Tim Scott, the black Senator from South Carolina, failed to ignite. A very appealing man, with a compelling narrative, who is, in a field of angry candidates, decent and hopeful, was sidelined. He may yet be the perfect vice-presidential running mate.