Understanding American politics (and thus world politics) is easy if you always remember one thing. See title.
The aim of all Empires is the same. To establish and preserve Economic power using Military power.
Social issues are irrelevant, except as they influence the continuation of the empire. People only exist to serve the empire. Environmental issues are irrelevant except as they influence the continuation of the empire. To the empire the environment only exists to provide resources and fuel to continue the empire. The law is irrelevant except as it influences the continuation of the empire. Any law that does not serve the empire is ignored or changed. The rules of civilization are irrelevant. In the eyes if the empire the empire IS civilization, and gets to make the rules.
In the American Empire the President is tasked with one thing, the empire must endure. The President is not the emperor, there is no emperor. The President is irrelevant except as s/he influences the continuation of the empire.
The rulers of the American Empire (the 1% of the 1%) have learned from history that the best way to destroy and empire is to destroy The Emperor, thus there is no Emperor.
The American Empire has nothing to do with fairness, equality, justice, democracy, right, wrong, Left or Right. Anything, any action, any person, any entity, any corporation that serves the Empire will endure. Anything, any thing that threatens the Empire will be destroyed.
If you wish to understand politics, America, and the world always remember to start with this one fact, The Empire must endure.
Especially if you wish to oppose it.
There is one more thing to remember, as well. Every Empire that has ever existed has also fallen.