As we watch the world spin its gears to formulate what to compare the current “Trumpist” wave to, many people have concluded the movement reminds them much of the Freedom Caucus or the Tea Party. The media at the time of these two parties, or one of the same, stated that they were the future of their parties (the Republican party), they were primary-ing the establishment, and they were going to take over the party by vote size.

In reality, they never broke 10% of the House. The caucus had a total of 40 house members while Donald Trump made 42 total endorsements this cycle for both chambers. A conclusion: Over-represented in the media based on air time and attention. This is because the establishment continues to stay quietly complicit and doesn’t do anything newsworthy every day to feed the news cycle of 24 hours.

10% of the House equals roughly 20% of the party and is enough to do damage and hold the party as a whole hostage. Ask Boehner, however, that’s not redefining the party. The bulk of the Republican party IS NOT “Trump Loyalists” nor was the Tea Party making up the bulk of the party. Individuals were in fact quietly complicit.

The Republican is NOT a uniform party and simply never has been. The Trump Party is eating the former Tea Party/Freedom Caucus, and the Trump Party will be eaten alive by whatever sub-party wishes to step up next. Just like the Democratic party, it’s a Big Tent Party.

One might argue that to some degree there was GOP opposition to the rise of the Freedom Caucus. Moderate speakers struggled to get them under control and clearly had little faith and admiration for them as a whole. Donald Trump and his “loyalists” on the other hand had that problem from the time of his nomination. Everyone who opposed him eventually went to kiss the ring. He may have only endorsed 42 people, but let’s be realistic, it’s because he only needs to endorse 42 people.

The rest of the Republican party, those unattached by Trump due to them supporting his impeachment or due to them fighting him on the big lie, just don’t matter and do as they’re told. They never voted to impeach or even convict him and plenty of them support his election lies even today.

The GOP is not divided… There is a fraction of “Never-Trumpers” who are actively opposing the populist wing of the party. None of the others care. They use them for as long as it keeps them in power and by the time they’ve lost all control, they have no choice but to continue as they have.