Originally Posted by
Breccia
I respectfully disagree.
Trump is clearly trying to keep as much of the population with him as possible. Remember, this is a man who needs to project the image of "trodden-upon underdog" to get the blue collar support -- yes, I know he was born a gazillionaire, that's still the image he needs. That's why everything's rigged against him, even when he's in charge.
The strategy, then, was to protest what Trump likely knew was an honest and legal election -- simply to keep that support up. "They took something from you," Trump says, "you're the silent majority, you actually won, but they took it. Send me money."
Did Trump think he would win the election, before the election? Yes. He almost certainly did.
After the election, did Trump think he had a real shot of illegally seizing the WH and, somehow, have everyone accept it and have another four-year term? No, not even Trump is that delusional. Although some of his rabid fanbase are, which Trump needs. But he did need enough of them to create an army of money. People to watch his TV show. People to donate to his campaign, which he would steal from and keep the money for himself. People to buy his brand. People to stay at his hotels. And most importantly, enough of a rabid fanbase that, in 2022 and 2024, he can tell other politicians "Give me money and fame, and I will tell my rabid fanbase to vote for you. Otherwise I will label you a traitor and you'll never win."
Look, Trump is a narcissist to the point of insantiy, might be suffering mentally, and is too fat to live long. But this isn't panic. This is acting. This is lying. And Trump is very good at lying -- he does almost nothing else. If anything, I suspect the panic was when the crowd went further than he expected. Trump might very well have seen the power he was trying to cultivate nose-dive like his net worth when the crowd he inspired to commit insurrection actually did it. Now he has Twitter cut off. Now he has Pence mad at him, McConnell mad at him, and a few others. Now he might not get that pardon or that TV show.
If that's the panic you meant, then we are agreed.