O has to do what Val says simply because others put him where he is, and she is his handler for them........he knows he is nothing - toast - without his secret managers/backers.
We, of course, knew he was nothing long before he was elected the first time.
I believe this is the real source of his anger and frustration. He knows he’s a slave and must do what he is told. Regardless of how much it hurts his image.
No, I don’t wear a tin hat........
A Sharyl Atkinson could do wonders on this, no doubt.
But I truly believe her life would be in danger and I think she knows that.
Look how she was threatened when she did the good snooping that she did already............