Definitely, Trump was the right mouthpiece at the right time to become the voice of the reactionary Right, and he knows how to manipulate people willing to be manipulated. But I can’t buy the idea that he’s a genius with a plan. Give him food and applause and feeling he’s bullying others and he’s kinda satiated. H’es a useful tool for the Project 2025 agenda.

As for Vance, there’s no doubt that he was picked by Peter Thiel.