Understanding Trump.

It's simple. No psychology necessary.

It's his world view.

He sees the world vertically. Everyone is either above him or below him.

He always punches down. He can't punch up. He kowtows to anyone above him.

That's why he wanted to be president. 1/

There's nothing higher than president.

Except one person.

The person who can destroy him financially, politically, & personally.

Vladimir Putin. 2/

Financially he owes Putin billions. Call in that in & he's dead.

Politically Putin made him & can break him. His base can feed his ego but that's it. PS they're just like him, vertical, & enjoy the illusion of being on top.

Personally, he wants a Trump Dynasty. 3/

The best example of that is his objection to having a Don Jr. What if the kid is a loser?

Viewed that way, his autocracy makes perfect sense & so does his fawning attitude to Putin.

Right now, he punches down on everybody, except Putin.

For now. 4/

If he ever achieves absolute power, that may change.

That dynamic also controls his Republican acolytes.

Why? Because Trump's vertical rise depends on blackmail, like Putin's.

He has people investigated, e.g. Black Cube, & controls them with that knowledge. 5/

Apply this verticle dynamic & his actions in Helsinki start to make sense.

He bowed to Master in secret & hasn't acknowledged a lot of Master's claims since.

He got punched down & is hiding it.

They are all thugs & bullies. 6/

Putin knows this & will never let him get enough power to break free.

But we can & must.

By voting out ALL the corrupt elected criminals. And prosecuting their unelected conspirators.

America's existence & ours depends on it.

Restore horizontal society.

7/ end

@threadreaderapp unroll please