"He's trying to lose." is gaining momentum on the center-right.

Let me stop you, because I have *definitely* heard that one before.

Nobody has ever needed to be president the way Donald Trump does. Emotionally. Financially. Legally. He has no plan for living the rest of his life without the powers and protections of the office wrapping around him like a warm blanket.

His "business empire" is a house of cards he can't keep propped up without the influence of the office.

His criminal and civil liabilities are kept only just in check by a combination of immunity doctrines and sycophantic enforcers.

He's not trying to lose, he is trying to head off a scenario where he can lose, or failing that, call into question the legitimacy of the loss.

He is in too deep to dig himself out.

He has climbed too high on a rickety tower of his own hubris and his only choice is to keep climbing until he reaches the clouds, and hope they're solid enough to grab hold of.

This is what happens when your go-to move is to double down.