This morning, in an article from the Associated Press about Trump’s diminishing support following his incitement of violence at the Capitol building on Wednesday, this statement was made:
“Trump has no plans to disappear from the political debate once he leaves office, according to aides who believe he remains wildly popular among the Republican rank-and-file.”
I was struck by this statement, not because of its general thrust, but because of an implicit assumption it makes. This assumption, I believe, also resides at the core of Trump’s supporters’ misplaced defense of the man. The assumption is that Trump has an actual interest in political debate. If the last four years demonstrate anything with absolute clarity it is that Trump’s only motivation for staying publicly active is self-interest. He simply needs the adoration.
Trump has changed his party affiliation five times since 1987 when he first registered as a Republican in Manhattan. Since then, he has moved between the Independence Party of New York, the Democratic Party, the Republican Party, no affiliation (Independent), and then back to the Republican party again in 2012. I do not believe this demonstrates any sort of sincere attempt to find a true ideological home. Instead, I see it as an opportunistic and continuous search for worshipers.
At present, Trump has found his worshipers within the Republican party. But this is probably temporary. When he begins to sense enough doubt (disloyalty) within the flock, he will shift to a purer base, perhaps one of his own creation this time. Like any addict, he will continuously seek a purer and more potent form of the drug.
Republicans who see Trump as a means to political or social ends should be careful. The more cynical among his followers may acknowledge that they are just using this simple man, but the converse is also true. At this point, the more strategic leaders within the RNC will continue their adoration of Trump as long as necessary to retain his base until they can identify their next standard bearer. But once that next leader is found, Trump will scream about abandonment and will attempt to extract his base from the party and inject it into his own sect.
If we are fortunate, that sect will wither and die without the support of a major party. If we are less fortunate, it will make last week’s insurrection look mild. And Trump will support almost anything his followers attempt, as long as they provide him with a continuous infusion of adoration.