I think I finally understand Trump: Imagine a toddler who does the opposite of what you tell him to.

[DetlefK]

It begins with a fishing-expedition: The KGB wants a foot in the door in the circle of the rich and famous in the US. Somebody who knows a guy who knows a guy who knows a guy. And Trump is an easy mark. Who knows what the pay-off could be if you stay friends with such a vain and easily manipulated person?

Then comes 2016.
On the one side is Hillary Clinton, a strong, indepent politician with her own ideas. On the other side is your easily manipulated mark. So Russia starts sabotaging HRC.
Trump thinks that it's perfectly normal for everyone to adore him, to help him, to work for him for free. There is no collusion because he never actively asked for help. Russia gave him everything on a silver-platter. There was never a need for Trump to ask for favors.

Then come 2017 and 2018.
Trump genuinely believes that he has not colluded with Russia. Yet everyone keeps pestering him about collusion.

Trump sees himself as a counter-puncher and so he starts overreacting to every single criticism.

"I didn't collude! You colluded!"

"Don't trust Putin? Fuck you, now I'm gonna trust him just to spite you!"

"Don't trust Kim Jong Un? Fuck you, now I'm gonna trust him just to spite you!"

"Don't be mean to immigrants? Fuck you, now I'm gonna end DACA just to spite you!"

"Don't be nice to Nazis? Fuck you, now I'm gonna call them very fine people just to spite you!"

"Answering questions? Fuck you, now I'm gonna shut down all investigations just to spite you!"





For Trump, everything is about power and payback.
Ask him to do one thing and he will do the opposite to show that he's stronger than you.

[lunatica]

1. It's called the terrible twos

Every parent knows all about them.



And nothing fits the bill more perfectly than Trump’s knee jerk behavior.

[Control-Z]

2. All but the didn't ask for help part.

He did it on national television when he asked Russia to find Hillary's email. His son did it in emails and a meeting we know about which they also lied about several different ways. Maggot senior drafted one of them (lies) in a letter.

There are too many cases to believe for a minute that he didn't know or ask the Russians to help.

[Marie Marie]

3. It's called Oppositional Defiance and yes, that's a "thing",

usually found in adolescents and teens. Fits!

[IcyPeas]

4. Putin Putin, Putin...

Vladimir , Vladimir Vladimir

LOOK WHAT I CAN DO

[Ms. Toad]

5. Why did it take you so long to understand him?

That's been pretty clear to me since very shortly after the election (if not earlier).

[meow2u3]

6. ADDitude magazine has an article about ODD in adults

https://www.additudemag.com/oppositional-defiant-disorder-in-adults/

Oppositional Defiant Disorder in Adults

Adults with oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) display a pattern of negative, hostile, and defiant behavior that lasts at least six months and includes four (or more) of the following symptoms:

Often loses temper
Often argues with family and coworkers
Actively defies or refuses to comply with rules and laws
Deliberately annoys people
Blames others for his or her mistakes or misbehavior
Easily annoyed by others
Angry and resentful
Spiteful or vindictive