Possibly both. George W. Bush observed most of the country adore Bill Clinton during the roaring 90's, and mistakenly saw the presidency as a larger version of the Texas governorship from which he could exorcise his inadequacies relative to his dad/Jeb. Then 9/11 happened....1/
Similarly, Trump observed most of the country adore Obama. That adulation probably was not only irresistible to Trump’s narcissism, but the idea of the presidency also allowed Trump to exorcise his deep-seated sense of inadequacy relative to Fred Trump/NYC “elites”/Obama,…2/
….as well as providing vindication/revenge for Trump being humiliated by Obama at the White House Correspondents’ dinner. 3/
Of course, it has also been reported that Trump neither expected nor wanted to win the election (thread): 4/
