If he ran for president as a Democrat the Dems would be trotting out all his connections to and support of various Republicans over the years.
Trump has been swimming in the establishment waters for a very long time so it's interesting to me that he has chosen to run as a Republican instead of a Democrat.
Trump is very conscious and protective of the Trump brand so I find it unbelievable that he would wreck his brand just to help the Democrats. If that is the case the payoff would have to be huuuge. I find the theory that he is running interference for Hillary a little too conspiratorial
to swallow.
Personally I think he is a patriot. A patriot in the sense that he loves the "old America". The USA that built an empire, won wars then rebuilt Europe, became an agricultural powerhouse and fed the world, became the technological birthplace of space exploration, computer technology etc.
He is an old fashioned nationalist, crony capitalist and statist who is utilitarian in philosophy. He still values our American Judeo/Christian culture, especially American exceptionalism, and he wants to bring it back. A dominant, strong USA who is not dependent on or indebted to others is good for business.
He is not a social conservative, a neo-con or an internationalist.
Would he be a good president? Who knows? Cruz is just as big a gamble IMHO and Hillary will be a horrible president.
Our choices are pretty lame. It's almost as if the choices reflect the overall condition/character of our country at large