From my new column:

People who have long been convinced that Trump is a Russian agent decided that Trump’s abject posture toward Putin in Helsinki proves their theory. Two prominent Democrats hinted at that possibility. I think a less extravagant explanation is available.
The president has a long track record of admiring foreign dictators. He has long believed that treating America as a moral exemplar is an obstacle to diplomacy. And — probably most important — he thinks that any attention to Russian meddling in the 2016 election detracts from the glory of his victory.
That’s not the subtext of Trump’s remarks about Russia. It’s the text. . . .