Trump thinks what's in his interest is in the public interest. And so, his intent was to serve the public interest. Say the GOP, defending his egregious abuse of power to make his personal reelection more likely.

Gotta credit them will balls. Wow. Corruption as virtue.

Republicans Move to Block Impeachment Witnesses, Driving Toward Acquittal

For Republicans, it appeared as if they were on the verge of giving Mr. Trump what he has wanted all along: an acquittal that he could boast about on the campaign trail — delivered before he goes to the Capitol next Tuesday for his State of the Union address.

. . . .

“Every public official I know believes that his election is in the public interest,” said Alan M. Dershowitz, the celebrity defense lawyer and constitutional scholar who is part of the Mr. Trump’s legal team. “Mostly, you’re right.”

“If the president does something which he believes will help him get elected, in the public interest, that cannot be the kind of quid pro quo that results in impeachment,” he said.

. . . . 

Democrats have argued that Mr. Trump’s pressure campaign on Ukraine was precisely the kind of corrupt scheme that the nation’s founders had in mind when they created impeachment, fearing that an out-of-control president would abuse his power for personal gain. 

But throughout the day, lawyers for Mr. Trump argued that all elected officials make policy decisions to help themselves get re-elected.

Update 1/30/2020.

Wait, we're supposed to think that when Boss Trump commits gang boss crimes to get reelected it's because he thinks his own reelection is in the public interest?

We're supposed to believe Boss Trump ever had a thought in his head about whether his election or reelection might further or harm the national interest?

That he would not just laugh like a more powerful Al Capone at anyone fool enough to believe such a thing?

We're supposed to believe that every pol who commits whatever crime to get elected actually always thinks his reelection is best for the national interest?

Who the fuck actually believes that shit?

What do you suppose this shitpot Caligula in the White House thinks when he makes GOP biggees who scorned and insulted him throughout 2016 eat shit at his command while smiling as he watches?

Romney? Cruz? Little Marco? Hell, Lindsey Graham?

No doubt at all the "head on a pike" thing is perfectly true, and the power of the threat is seen in their pretense of outraged denials.

How Boss Trump must roll with malicious laughter!