Trumps motivation for stealing the documents. Follow his uncontrollable traits.

[fightforfreedom]

Trump never does anything, ever, unless he sees some type of profit, benefit, for himself. It is an obsession. It could be for money. It could be for revenge. It could be for blackmail.

Why did Trump not protect himself when he learned he was being investigated? He acted differently this time. He basically told everyone to piss off, I'm doing this. Trump will usually back down when he knows he can't win. It could be because he is a narcissist and the power of the presidency went to his head. He may be at a point now where he thinks he is almighty. Just a guess but it makes sense.

Narcissists do not get better , they get worse. Their disease takes over and consumes them.

[The Third Doctor]

1. Trump

Has been getting away with things his entire life. In his brain he thought that tptb would not dare come for him because he's the Donald. What pisses me off is that they are treating him with kids gloves even now.

[Metaphorical]

7. But are they?

This is dangerous territory. A former president is being accused by the justice department of a president of the rival party of espionage and conspiracy. The case had better be airtight or the GOP will attempt to do the same thing with Trumped up charges (pun intended here) when they are back in power. I expect they will do it anyway, but by keeping the burden of proof high, the Democrats will make it harder for that retaliation to have much traction. Everyone knows Trump is a criminal, thar he has broken the law, and that he will be punished. It's the precedent being set that makes it tricky.

[Moostache]

2. He should be in Gitmo

Hey Joe...that abortion of legislation "The Patriot Act" is still in effect...use the provisions that allow the POTUS to rendition people to black sites and disappear this menace now, before he gets off again and takes what little faith millions have in our entire bought-and-sold system with him.

For the good of the country, its past time for Donald Trump to say goodnight and be disappeared to a hole and throw away the hole (to borrow from a bad but somehow entertaining film...).

[Thomas Hurt]

3. I think he believes he owns the Presidency like he owns Trump Org.

He got the Presidency by doing deals, making friends, branding/marketing, building up a base of mouthbreathers and thugs, he made money investment and has been grifting the same mouthbreathers for years.

The Presidency is his going concern and he owns it no matter if he lost the last election.

[Irish_Dem]

4. He thought he was holding all the cards.

No one could touch him.

[underpants]

5. I agree but let's back up - he never respected the office

He thought HE was doing the office of Presidency a favor by just showing up (usually after 11AM). He also distrust The Deep State - he actually seems to believe that - and thought some of these items would be used to embarrass him. He took the sharpie Hurricane map with him.

He’s a slob and not a very exact person. He doesn’t understand that there are people who take their jobs seriously and that they are very diligent. Stealing what he did (and it is theft regardless of the security status) was his way of “getting over” on “THEM”. Then it became a pissing match.

[agingdem]

6. Trump's motivation for stealing the documents

is first and foremost his greed, money, ...and what better grift than a "presidential" library...selling patronage, subscriptions, admission...he wants the documents back so he can display them along with stolen artifacts..and unlike a private art collector hiding his stolen masterpiece, Trump needs adoration, an acknowledgement of his supposed genius, his library would be open to like-mind sycophants, quick with high praise and open check books...