Perhaps people like this. They say they don't, but most "strong leaders" make it about "them", do they not?
People disrespect people all day long. I think that most Americans secretly like Trump telling folks off; they wish they could do it themselves in more situations than they do. Trump doesn't meekly take people crapping on him. He takes no excrement. Folks like that more than they let on, and respect that quality more than they do graciousness.
Then why didn't Tricky Dick beat JFK? Why didn't Al Gore lock up Tennessee or NH or Florida then?
Let's face it, both JFK and Bush Jr were far less like that, and yet they won.
McCain also should've done much better in 2008, and whatever he lacked in that department could've been made up by Sarah Palin over Mr. Class Act Obama.
Sorry, but you're grasping at straws here.