A great subject in itself. Personally view your take as perceptive.
James (also a centrist) claims that the blue states resent the red states' attempts to participate in U.S. policy. I thought Obama was cut from that cloth, seeing himself as a teacher (your word) whose job it was to educate America towards globalism and his other core beliefs. As a matter of style I tremendously appreciate the "braininess" of his approach.
Trump is a negotiator; he does not resent an opposing view or try to suppress it ("I don't blame China. I blame us."). But he certainly wants to "win," and as crushingly as possible.
In a conference room he shoots for consensus, but I think only as an expediency - not usually having a win-win spirit long term. His greed for personal victory doesn't leave a lot of room for a win-win scenario.