Admittedly, this is the interesting part. Ukraine via its leader apparently did try to reach US in exchange for money, but, and there stories get confused, was ignored. I have to wonder if Trump has some actual fixed winners table in his mind ( because he does not seem to follow the most optimal path ).

The issue is that everyone is using the template of a “US President” to do the heavy lifting when analyzing Trump.

Trump is performing the act of what his voter base thinks a President should appear to be doing.

He has a group of people who have hitched their cart to his, and feed into his beliefs.

Underlying that are the rank opportunists and the people who were waiting for this chance to change the nature of the American system to better combat the impact of science and “out of touch ivory tower liberals”, or whatever term of the day is.

Looking for the Emperor’s new clothes is always going to suggest that there is a pattern, since it depends on your ability to believe there is method to the madness.