Unlike some, anyway, I am not at all surprised that Trump abused his office for his own political gain. Corrupt behavior is who Trump is. If he were to act honestly, without self-interest, and faithful to his duties as President, that would be a surprise, just as it would be astonishing if he were ever to speak the truth consciously and willingly.

Trump and Trumpworld are so narrow and corrupt that I can at least imagine that maybe Trump really thinks he’s done nothing wrong. Don’t all winners practice extortion and regard as their own what others have entrusted to them? But no, Trump is not so naive. He is a semi-criminal, one of a class of people who have contempt for the laws and think people who obey them are chumps. He and his enablers knew he committed a crime and took immediate steps to conceal it, like a cat hiding its feces.

Semi-criminals have standard responses to stress, like “If you get caught, lie about it and keep lying.” Trump and his winged-monkey, Rudi, have not stopped telling lies for several days now, and will keep on telling lies as long as anyone will listen to them. 

His Trumpites are firing a copious and varied barrage of disinformation in their Leader’s defense, lies calculated to deceive and tall-tales intended to distract. The Trumpworld cares only about appearances and impressions, and in the Trumpworld the truth is considered the greatest threat.