Something like what is going on has been the Mitch GOP agenda for decades. They persuaded the fools that unions, lawyers, their Congressperson, and the press were evil and working against them. Those are the only things that give the little guy a chance.
The People disarmed. The Powerful unchecked.
You can't look at their political "leadership" and propaganda arms and think otherwise.
Trump, IMO, just pulled them off script. He made the power play naked and voters (increasingly sadly) rallied round the hate he spews. Trump shouldered aside Mitch and the other establishment villains like that foreign leader in Europe.
Trump, as I've tiresomely written often, seized the reins of the hate engine which he can now turn on any GOP not lock-stepping along with him.
Perhaps we can at least be amused about what Mitch and boys in charge thought about suddenly being toadies. And over in the House, they have to take Margerie, Matt, and Lauren seriuosly. What do you think about that, Mitch?