Why dident Trump just return the documents

Because Trump has always believed that he is special and that the law doesn't apply to him. He has spent a lifetime cheating, lying, and stealing, and he isn't going to quit now. He just didn't think there would be consequences to his actions.

That's a good question. Why didn't he?

Because he thinks laws don't pertain to him.

OR

Because he has ZERO campaign ideas other than him playing the victim.

Because he thinks he’s above the law.

Taking the documents could have simply been a sloppy mistake in him and his aides being clueless about the law. And they were clueless about the law for 4 years, so that is believable. But storing them in a bathroom, and other weird locations? Surely his mansion has better places to store things. And not returning them? I suppose it could simply be a childish "no, they are mine!!" temper tantrum (possible with Trump), but surely he has lawyers who would set things straight. I am guessing Ivanka or Jared tipped off the DOJ about the records.

My feeling: In Trump's mind having those files was his way of holding onto some power. Whether there was a deliberate plan to use them in some way is unclear, but if he truly believed the lies he spews about the 2020 election, then he may have felt he needed to have those records for whenever he was "restored" to power. Or maybe he simply did not want the Biden administration to have access to them.

It's like stealing a car but you were caught on camera stealing it. When the Police come to your house they say, Just Give The Car Back and that will be the end of it. And Dotard said, NO!

Because Trump is Trump. Do what you want, admit no wrong, rebel, then lie.

I don't think Donald Trump realises just how much trouble he is in. The comments from William Barr, who was one of his most vocal supporters, are pretty damning for one.

The prosecution would like to know. The judge is a fan of trump and won't recuse herself.

A number of distorted reasons exist for him taking them and refusing to cooperate. He did not act alone in this, he took very specific documents that he was asked to take.

Trump, answer this: 43 empty folders were found. Where are these missing documents?

Laws are for poor people.