When Donald Trump kicked off his presidential campaign, he didn’t win any fans among the Republican establishment. Back in 2016, the wealthy New Yorker was largely dismissed as a joke—an embarrassment that seemed to fracture the political landscape. But as he started to gather support, these established figures faced a dilemma: align with a “NeverTrump” stance or, well, perhaps pretend to come around.
Some, like the Lincoln Project and other NeverTrump affiliates, found themselves stuck in that opposition. Others waited for an opportunity to reclaim the party from the populist tide. Now, with Trump effectively defining the GOP, the strategy has shifted. If you can’t defeat the MAGA movement, why not co-opt it?
Critics may disagree, but it’s important to understand that MAGA was never a cult. Supporters rallied around Trump because he represented their interests.
Trump’s initial actions felt like a messy marriage. He galvanised the base and forged movements that often operated outside GOP structures. However, he didn’t have the necessary institutional support to effectively govern—running an administration requires a dedicated army of staff and loyal operatives.
That void was filled by entrenched GOP figures who often opposed Trump and his agenda. Key advisors failed to back him up adequately, military leaders misled him, and despite some significant wins, his presidency was marked by a continuous struggle against the entrenched elite.
A Hopeful Republican Alternative?
An aggressive legal strategy from the Biden administration prompted Ron DeSantis to step in, raising questions about Trump’s viability. I think DeSantis did a commendable job during his time as governor, particularly in managing the craziness of the Covid-19 pandemic. But, honestly, he’s not the strongest campaigner. Remember when a scandal surfaced in 2018 involving a man using meth at a hotel with a male escort?
Regardless of his shortcomings, Trump remains a formidable force in the campaign dynamic. Anyone paying attention could tell that DeSantis was stepping into a challenging situation.
Yet, many Republicans who hadn’t openly declared support saw DeSantis as a chance to strike. He had proven himself and was just short of the major party line. He was far more polished and likely to deliver scripted speeches without legal woes hanging over him.
Supporters among donors and consultants began rallying behind him. Funding increased, the media positioned him as the future of the party, but unfortunately, his campaign stumbled. It was tough.
After DeSantis’s eventual defeat, anti-Trump Republicans were taken aback, their egos bruised. They started looking for new strategies. Trump had survived a botched assassination attempt—he had even outperformed Vice President Harris. It became clear: he was a party unto himself. The thought of trading him for a more refined GOP alternative seemed paranoid.
Strains on the Base
The MAGA ideology could not be defeated by old narratives about smaller government and tax cuts. The remaining strategy was to redefine the movement from within.
Trump’s second term kicked off with a bang—government agencies were shut down, challenges to birthright citizenship arose, and deportations resumed. MAGA supporters were thrilled, while progressives appeared confused. Meanwhile, GOP insiders debated how best to regain their power.
Then cracks started to show.
Trump authorized a military strike against Iran at the behest of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, which led to friction over a ceasefire. Amidst all this, Trump discussed pardoning undocumented immigrants involved in agricultural and hospitality sectors. The Justice Department and FBI have dismissed claims about a supposedly damaging client list linked to Jeffrey Epstein.
This shift was particularly troubling, especially since Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel had built their reputations by promising to uncover Epstein’s secrets. Suddenly, the narrative changed. The much-hyped “client list” was nothing but a myth. Cover-up? What exactly are we talking about?
These tensions with Trump’s base were real—this presented Republicans with an opening.
The Rise of “Neo-MAGA”
A new faction of Trump supporters emerged out of the blue: the “Neo-MAGA” group. Many of these individuals had formerly supported DeSantis but now proclaimed themselves the most loyal defenders of Trump. They spent their time lecturing real Trump enthusiasts, casting doubt on the man they once mocked.
They claimed that MAGA meant transforming governance. Yet, the focus shifted from addressing illegal immigration to targeting gangs and drug traffickers. MAGA had seemingly ignored the Epstein controversy all along, insisting followers just trust the process. Trust the influencers who once pushed those narratives and now dismiss them as fantasies.
This demand for blind loyalty is interesting, especially since many of these same influencers have brought on negotiators who don’t align closely enough with pro-Israel perspectives.
This isn’t about loyalty to Trump. While some critics may argue otherwise, MAGA isn’t a cult. Supporters stood by him through thick and thin because he championed issues that mattered to them: economic justice, national sovereignty, immigration reform, and a restrained foreign policy, among others. They cheered when he succeeded and pulled back when he faltered.
Neo-MAGA aims to create a new dynamic, where dissent is seen as heresy, bringing back the old GOP agenda under a fresh guise. These operatives see an opportunity to reclaim power by leveraging the MAGA brand and transforming it into something more palatable for donors.
However, the base remains vigilant. They remember who undermined their aspirations, who ridiculed them, and who insisted that DeSantis was the future. They know that the very folks promoting unity now were once at odds with them. Just moments ago, many were hoping for Trump’s downfall.
Despite any disagreements between Trump and his supporters, both need to watch out for those trying to steer things back toward the establishment agenda. MAGA isn’t built on blind loyalty to influencers. It’s rooted in promises, and those promises still hold weight.
