DONALD Trump’s unusually warm attitude towards Vladimir Putin has long puzzled observers in Washington and beyond.

While successive American Administrations have treated Russia primarily as a strategic rival, Trump repeatedly spoke of the Russian President with respect, even deference. This posture was not accidental or impulsive. It reflected deeper instincts about power, leadership and international politics that have shaped Trump’s worldview for decades.

At the most basic level, Trump appears drawn to Putin as a figure of authority. Putin represents a style of leadership that values decisiveness, hierarchy and control qualities Trump has often praised at home and abroad. For Trump, effective leadership is not measured by institutional restraint or procedural checks, but by the ability of a leader to impose his will and command loyalty. Putin’s consolidation of power within Russia, his marginalization of political opponents and his projection of strength on the global stage align closely with Trump’s own preferences for strong, personalized rule.

This admiration is also rooted in Trump’s skepticism towards liberal democratic norms. Throughout his political career, Trump has expressed frustration with what he views as the inefficiencies of democratic governance, multilateral diplomacy and bureaucratic oversight. Putin, by contrast, governs without such constraints. His........

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