Trump didn't do it alone. Russia had been planting the seeds for decades, and Republicans have been cashing in against their own country for a while now too. There's little incentive for these people to protect democracy apparently.
I think it's more helpful to see Trump, Putin, whoever as the logical results of oligarchy, rather than 4 dimensional chess of Russia. Capital like strong men who defend the interest of capital, and don't like democracy because they aren't popular with the majority.
Don’t give him that much credit. Those people have always wanted this, Trump was just a mouthpiece they could organize around.
The US has always been split between people who want to make things better, and assholes. It’s no different today than it was during the revolution, in the antebellum decades, during the Civil War and Reconstruction, the Gilded Age, the Great Depression, McCarthyism, civil rights, Nixon, Reaganomics, impeachment over a blowjob, Patriot Act …
Less than half and always shrinking, but the assholes have always had a large enough majority to demand that the scales be tipped in their favor. Electoral college gives more weight to rural states, the Missouri Compromise extended empowerment of slavers. The assholes are always threatening to take their ball and go home, and they tried it in 1860.
That's fine I'm part of the generation, and ready to fight against them for democracy. 🤷♂️
Edit: I'm not trying to sound like a badass or anything, just tired of hearing this over and over. They think people will lie down once they start, but they forget this 20 year war we had has vets that still love this country, love democracy, and will protect the constitution.