I’ll preface this that I’m no political scientist or strategist...
First, I’m happy the trial is delayed and wish it was a bit longer actually I’m all for swift resolution but my experience with trump is that time won’t be his friend. New details of malfeasance are starting to emerge. More importantly I expect being out of the spotlight can only last so long. And when he does emerge it will be for unwanted reasons. High on that list, in my estimation, will be attacking the disloyal republicans to try to regain some lost credibility with his most vocal and extreme supporters.
Which brings us to the second point which is the internal conflict of the Republican Party. I assume ideology is important but more important will be who controls the established political machinery. Third parties are DOA in our system. Trump is already threatening to form the patriot party. If a “traditional” republican had to choose I assume they’d prefer that to having the patriot mentality consume the gop and control its political machinery. Trump / trumpism is a metastasized cancer. The prognosis for the gop is bad either way but it seems like the choice is between long shot curative regiment or entering hospice.
That said, I expect them to acquit out of cowardice. Simple logic that they likely lose either way so don’t piss of the crazies.