Rubio melts down on air over accusation U.S. is ‘placating Putin’

That's certainly possible, but it's by no means necessary, and not even particularly likely.

Trump is a spoiled, petulant, childish narcissist. He wouldn't react well to blackmail – his ego would lead him to be at least situationally passive/aggressive about it.

And in fact, that's why I do think he's being blackmailed by Israel (and specifically via information, evidence, video clips and so on that they got from Epstein). His sort of lukewarm, on-again/off-again support for them is just what I'd expect in that situation - he'll go along, but he's at least going to drag his feet.

With Russia though, I really think the primary motivator is that he idolizes Putin. You can see it in his face in any images from any of their meetings - he lights up like a schoolgirl with a crush. And that would explain why he's so enthusiastic and even reckless about allying with Russia - because he thinks he can only gain from it, since he'll get to be a trusted ally to his idol.

Which also illustrates the fact that he's sort of stupid and short-sighted, because if he was smarter and more circumspect, he'd know that, given the chance, Putin is going to play him like a fiddle.