Donald Trump didn't ring the Republican Party's front doorbell and patiently wait for it to open, nine years ago. He burst in, smashed the door and put his feet up on the desk. This hasty takeover of the Grand Old Party was that of a maverick at war with the "elites," even though he was a billionaire standing alone. It was a tailor-made role for a man who had reinvented himself in reality TV. In March 2016, the businessman seeking the Republican nomination didn't even show up to attend the annual Conservative Political Action Conference. This decision likely stemmed from concerns about how he would be received, especially given the modesty of his credentials at the time.

In his American "carnage" speech on January 20, 2017, delivered during his swearing-in ceremony, Trump vowed to defend the Constitution in front of the Capitol, where his supporters would sow chaos just under four years later. He criticized a "small group in the nation's capital" who, he claimed, "reaped the benefits while the people bore the costs."

"The establishment protected itself, but not the citizens of our country. Their victories have not been your victories; their triumphs have not been your triumphs," he asserted. This stigmatization was not limited to the Democratic camp, it also targeted congressional Republicans.

Once in the White House, Trump consistently embraced a rupture with the status quo. He broke away from traditional Republican values, starting with his first presidential decrees, notably his apostasy from free trade. He also rejected the conservative exercise of power by promoting a social media network (Twitter, now X) as an unchecked executive tool, characterized by frequent insults, the stigmatization of opponents and the dissemination of lies and misinformation.

The only way out is exile

Days before the November 5 election, a different Trump now stands before voters. Despite his political rallies remaining unchanged – even if they are often more erratic – the constant denigration of his Democratic opponent, Kamala Harris, who is showered with insults, has gone unchallenged by anyone in the Republican camp. This should not obscure the obvious: Trump has transformed from an anti-establishment critic into a focal point around which his own establishment and elite are now organized.

Almost no one can escape the Trumpian laws of political gravitation, as evidenced by his daughter-in-law's role as co-leader of the Republican Party, an extension of the nepotism that began during his presidency, with his son-in-law Jared Kushner and his daughter Ivanka holding significant roles in the White House. The only way out is exile, as seen with former number three Republican in the House of Representatives, Liz Cheney, despite her strong conservative record. The few Republican officials who voted to impeach Trump for his role in the assault on the Capitol have also left their positions.

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