It's Trump's narcissism getting in the way. The only way to keep him from doubling down and digging himself an ever deepening hole at times like this is to NOT make a big deal out of his defensive statements, ask him repeatedly about them, discuss them endlessly on cable news. It makes him more defensive. I'm telling ya, if when he first reacted to this, people had just nodded and said Uh huh, this would have been over long ago.
How did you arrive at that? The Dems ran out of ammo since nothing else was selling. This is all they have left. Trump not speaking about it would look worse. Of course he should since he's the target of the political hit job. The WORSE thing Republicans have done in the past is letting leftist get away with their shit. Trump fights back. That's WHY he won and the only reason he won.
Leftists are not used to Republicans that stand up for themselves. They still can't figure out how to deal with it.
No, he won because of the electoral college.
And note the revealing word choice in your post. "Stand up for themselves."
SELF. That's all Trump is concerned with. Not America, and certainly not Republicans. He's all about enriching himself, and perhaps his cronies, with the office of president.
Michael Che probably put it best: Trump doesn't want to be president. He just wanted to beat the nerd. That's why instead of getting ready to be president he immediately upon winning returned to the road to take a victory lap. He soaks up the cheering of the crowd like a performer, because that's all he is.