Here’s a question for you: Who’s the real head of the GOP?
President Trump is the leader of the Republican Party.
– former Trump advisor Jason Miller
When you see the amount of people that show up to the rallies for President Trump, and his $102 million fundraising haul, I think that voters in America, Republicans in America, would absolutely say the [former] president’s the most popular Republican and still leads the party.
– Ronna McDaniel, GOP National Cmte Chair
[Trump’s] the leader of the party, that’s clear.
– Senator Josh Hawley of Missouri
Elections are about the future. If you want to be a Republican leader in the House or the Senate, you have to have a working relationship with Donald Trump. Can Senator McConnell effectively work with the leader of the Republican party, Donald Trump? He is the most consequential Republican since Ronald Reagan.
– Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina
It shows that Trump and Trumpism has overtaken the RNC.
– Congressman Adam Kinzinger of Illinois
Don’t you believe ’em.
Donald Trump is not the head of the Republican Party, no matter what anyone says. That’s why his endorsements are no more predictive of victory than tossing a quarter, heads or tails. The real head of the Republican Party is Fox News’ Tucker Carlson.
The Former Guy and Comrade Carlson do amplify each others’ messages when they agree; however, when they don’t, the MAGA faithful go with the trust-fund baby and not the six-time bankrupt “businessman.” (Soon to be seven when Truth Social — which Trump can’t even remember the name of — implodes). Fox News — including Carlson — declared war on the COVID vaccine in furtherance of “owning the libs,” regardless how many of its viewers it sickened and killed. When Trump, as always eager for adoration, started recommending the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines, he got booed and booed again. Chalk one up for Tucker.
When fury-filled MAGA cultists verbally and physically attacked Congressman Dan Crenshaw (Texas) and his staff on June 18, they called Crenshaw “Eyepatch McCain.” Crenshaw doesn’t appear to even be on Trump’s radar, so this disrespectful slur can only come from Comrade Carlson’s TV show. So it’s Tucker setting the agenda. Chalk two up for Tucker.
And as for Carlson’s influence, it was he, not Trump, who singled out Ohio opportunist J.D. Vance for an endorsement and got Trump to go along. That’s three for Tucker.
Notice also how badly Trump has done with his endorsements, even though he carefully calculates who’s the front-runner before endorsing to make himself look powerful. So the MAGA horde isn’t in the same thrall as it once was.
Last year Time magazine called Tucker Carlson “the most Powerful Conservative in America.” Clearly, they got it right.
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