When the monster you created turns on you

In recent weeks, Trump has started attacking any Republican who has not fully embraced the false narrative that he won the 2020 election, leaving party officials, lawmakers and donors wondering about the repercussions they might face for not immediately endorsing a Trump 2024 White House run. Other Republicans are growing concerned about an unfair scenario in which donors may feel pressured to support Trump right out of the gate — not because they believe he’s the best candidate, but to simply avoid drawing the ex-president’s ire.

[...]

As recently as Wednesday, the president was mulling the idea of scheduling a campaign announcement on Jan. 20 to counterprogram Biden’s inauguration, according to two people familiar with the conversations. He has also discussed an announcement ahead of Georgia’s two Senate runoff elections on Jan. 5, believing his base’s excitement would increase turnout in the all-important contests.

  Politico

No, he doesn't care about turnout for the Georgia contests. He just wants to steal the publicity that will be available during the event. People still don't get what motivates Donald Trump.

Some Trump allies claim the president would help other Republicans, too, by declaring his candidacy almost immediately after leaving office, suggesting it would save the party a contentious primary between Trump-hostile characters and those vying to claim his ultra-loyal base. But other confidants have encouraged Trump to keep the public in suspense, and instead spend the next two years strategically undercutting the Biden administration and lending his help to House and Senate GOP candidates.

[...]

The result is a party in a holding pattern — one incapable of starting its long-term planning for 2022 or beyond until Trump makes up his mind, according to interviews with 13 current or former administration officials, party operatives and Republican donors. And even if Trump does make a swift decision to run, the GOP will then be beholden to the ex-president’s whims.

They're going to be beholden to them even if he doesn't run in 2024. He commands the base.

In sum, it could be a taxing few years for Republicans, with GOP institutions that are expected to remain neutral having to grapple with Trump’s grip on millions of voters, not to mention the insults he hurls at those who fail the loyalty tests.

[...]

When Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, who co-chaired the president’s reelection operation in the Midwestern battleground state, encouraged the White House in mid-November to begin the transition of power to President-elect Joe Biden, the president publicly solicited a primary challenger to take on DeWine in 2022. In similar comments this week, Trump snubbed Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp after he claimed the president’s legal team has yet to furnish credible evidence of voter fraud in his state.

“The governor has done nothing. I’m ashamed that I endorsed him,” Trump told Fox News on Sunday.

And after Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey certified Biden’s victory in the traditionally red state on Monday, Trump slammed his former ally on Twitter: “What is going on with @DougDucey? Who needs Democrats when you have Republicans like Brian Kemp and Doug Ducey?”

One person close to the president said Republicans who are up for reelection in 2022 will find “that it is impossible to run a successful campaign if you are not on Team Trump.”

[...]

The president came close to a 2024 announcement at a Tuesday night Christmas party at the White House — at one point telling a roomful of Republican National Committee members “I’ll see you in four years.”

“He thought he was going to win and feels his work is not done — that he can contribute more with a Republican House and Senate. And he thinks he was cheated,” said the former White House official.

That last part is true. But he's not interested in contributing anything to anyone but himself.

We are saddled with Donald Trump until the day he dies. And then we get Junior, whom I don't think will be able to command the legions who worship Trump, but he'll try.

...but hey, do what you want...you will anyway.