The foregoing illustrates something. People seem to go along with the Rule of Law because they agree or personally believe that it is in their best interest, whether that be self-interest, or the common good, probably most often the latter. The latter because at some level, the Rule of Law curtails personal freedom (in many cases things that we aren't inclined to do, but in others, like speeding, seatbelts, public intoxication, sodomy, etc. things we are inclined to do).
People ditch the Rule of Law because they no longer believe it is in their best interest, presumably; again, either self-interest or the common good.
Trump and his ilk are doing it out of self-interest. But they have the common man believing it's because the Rule of Law no longer serves the common good. Or at least the Rule of Law as currently conceived. All men are created equal, life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness and all that.
Dictators need a rule of law, too, it's just not a rule of law that works for anyone else. In groups, out groups, for thee not for me, etc. Like the law of Boot and Gun, it's pretty much all enforcement and no voluntary compliance because it serves no one's interest except the dictator's.