General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: USA Today's review of Trump's Great American Shit Show. "repellent schlock" [View all]wnylib
(26,870 posts)I know that it's what many people believe.
I there are some things that Trump intentionally degrades out of envy (Kennedy Center) or out of vengeance due to past experiences (mostly people). But I think that a lot of the time his destruction of things is a by product of his totally self-serving greed for money and power. He values nothing but himself, power, and money, so if what he does destroys a physical object, a tradition, someone's life, or the lives of huge numbers of people, he doesn't give a damn, other than feeling a sadistic, conquering glee at having hurt people.
Since he has no values, he does not care about whether he destroys the nation, its treasures, traditions, or people. He only cares about whether he feels personally hurt or challenged. So he destroys people and things when he or his projected image is personally threatened or challenged, but not for any ideological belief that he must destroy democracy. He destroys democracy principles and values because they are in the way of him having absolute power for himself over everyone and everything. It is always personal with Trump.
He destroys DOJ because they charged and prosecuted him for crimes. He destroys the FBI because they are part of DOJ and did the investigation of him and of his J6 thugs. Destroying them gives him vengeance and more personal power to control those agencies.
He put his name on the Kennedy Center because he wants to have JFK's popularity and respect. It bothers him that another president in his lifetime had such popularity and respect that a memorial was created for him. JFK had qualities that Trump envies, so he felt compelled to identify with him and usurp his memorial.
He certainly is compromised in his relationship with Putin, and Putin has used and manipulated him as a stooge for Putin's goals regarding the destruction of the US. But Trump's attachment to Putin is a love/hate one. Putin is a daddy figure to Trump, tough and ruthless like Fred Trump was with Donald. Trump is eager to please such a strong guy, just as he wanted to please Fred and get his approval. At the same time, Trump wants limitless power over other people to have his own way all the time, free of obligations and restraints. He wants to be his own person, which Fred never allowed. So Donald reenacts with Putin the relationship he had with Fred.