Actually improving the world would get him a place in history - barring any potential Ministry of Truth plans - far removed from the infamy he is currently headed for. Given that he doesn’t seem to care about what policy is as long as it excites his base, and that he is pathologically sensitive about how he is perceived, you’d think it would be an easy sell for moderate advisers (who are all gone now, of course). But you have to remember the influence of his father and Roy Cohn. The cruelty remains the point. It’s what his fans really want. It’s what HE really wants.

He's fundamentally selfish and lacking in empathy. Low work ethic and not a lot of interest in policy (what's best for the country) unless it affects his political messaging or relates to his hatred for Obama.

He's a heartless human being who has chosen to surround himself with heartless human beings. I think these people think that fame, power, and money always come at the direct expense of others - I'm not sure they can see how these things could ever exist for them in parallel with improvement of the world. So, they fight to retain as much power, fame, and money as possible by also making policies that stifle and suppress. It's all based on the fear that others will take what they have. He (they) could totally be good people and have their steaks too... but they won't.

An excellent article, my take on Trumpists is they see him and his policies as their chance to roll back what they see as decades of erosion of what they perceive to be true American values. They are almost a party within a party. Republicans have seen the way the base have whooped it all up and they realise if they rock the boat (even though they see what is happening as against what they believe in) they will be voted out. Sadly I feel this has paved the way for more populist politicians who will follow pandering to people's prejudices... In the UK you see that with Boris Johnson too, in other countries too...

Funny, I was going to post this link earlier today with essentially similar commentary. DT's interest in actually helping anyone is zero -- he's that horrible of an excuse for a human being.

This is a good timelime of GOP transition from Abe To Trump https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8VOM8ET1WU

I'm only observing from afar but, as far as I can surmise, it's because he's a Complete Fucking Stable Genius.

Force of habit? Game of take and take?

What cares the narcissist or the sadist for what's "good for the country"?

Thanks - I’ve wondered this. Even if you’re truly a cynical, power-hungry, hateful, racist misogynist... Why not look good, if you’re also a narcissist?