I also said, “Is Trump a patriotic American? Absolutely.”
By that I meant some of the things you stated (love of country, self reliance, strong military, law and order). It is hard to be a patriotic American without them!
I do not like him advocating for nationalized healthcare. I don’t like him advocating for big government and interference in free markets (supporting TARP, Obama’s stimulus, other bailouts), I do not like him flipping on abortion (though if has changed his mind for the better, I go with his current stance), I don’t like him advocating for the assault weapons ban... lots of things not to like about Trump and his positions, past or present. No one can say he is a conservative, unless you change the meaning of what “conservative” is.
He is a patriotic American. So is John McCain, based on his Vietnam experience. Neither of them, however, are conservatives.
I suggest you read his books and his policy statements.
Most of his supporters here on FR have and did so before deciding to support him.