I mean this is the kind of opposition narrative that doesn't really stand up to critical analysis. Which kind of goes for much of what's been thrown at Trump from Russiagate to Stormy Daniels to Epstein and so on.
We can't explain Donald Trump's choices and actions from a frame of "what is good for Donald Trump". Most of them simply don't make sense in that regard, and even if we thought he was a risk taker by nature he's exposed himself to overwhelming threats and loss. Before 2016, Trump was a successful billionaire, with some power brokering and a family winning the genetic lottery. By getting every establishment knife at his throat, he's had his businesses ripped to shreds by nakedly political prosecutions, he's been in nonstop legal and mortal jeopardy and if he hadn't literally dodged bullets and won his election he'd be either dead or in prison. And now that's he's regained power, when his foes kneel before him he's demanding token submissions that almost always either provide no benefit to Trump or benefit our nation instead. A plane for the government and his library? Lawyers forced to work pro bono for his administration? His most acerbic critics taken off the airwaves? Look at mayor Adams, he made a deal to support Trump's immigration enforcement to save his own corrupt ass- a personal benefit for Adams, a public benefit for the Trump administration.
Trump is far more in line with historical presidents who have also been pugilistic and vilified and pushed the envelope of executive powers, but always represented a philosophy- whether we agree with their direction or not. That vilification of Trump has not been in line with history save maybe Lincoln- throwing a hundred accusations at wall and seeing what sticks, trying to disenfranchise or imprison or just murder him over and over again. Trump is centered amidst a blazing wildfire whether he's the accelerant or the left's hate boner is to blame or whatever degree between.
Trump is enamored with power and being in power. This isn’t some hypothetical, we’ve seen this over and over. He’s also increased his wealth greatly since becoming president.
You can’t whitewash his actions or who he is. We have too much track record to bury your head in the sand and pretend he’s not the person he presents himself as every day.