It's telling that there seems to be a legit explanation but Trump's first instinct is to lie even when it's not necessary.

I got the sudden insight that all can be explained if you assume he's a troll of two kinds. First, the internet troll who stirs up dissent and trouble, seemingly for the LulZ, and Second, the classic troll who exacts a toll from everyone just for getting from here to there.

Don't be distracted. Money explains everything, even if we only know the greed part. That's easy to figure. There may be dark reasons for the need, but that's не мое дело.