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/
Except one person.
The person who can destroy him financially, politically, & personally.
Vladimir Putin. 2/
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/
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/
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/
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/
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