Merely applying common sense and a realistic view of how the world works will inevitably lead someone toward conservative principles, even if that person never sits around musing philosophically about conservatism vs. liberalism. I do think, however, that since becoming president Trump has begun to see how the political swamp really works and is therefore maybe even unbeknownst to himself beginning to develop a more solid conservative foundation.
He’s been relentlessly attacked by former “friends” on the left, such as Schumer, and by the establishment on the nominal right. My gut feeling is that that is having a profound impact on him, and that to the extent that he may have been politically naive before, particularly regarding the true nature of liberalism, he is no longer as he is rapidly discovering true conservatism, and that it is really just another name for our foundational American principles and values.
While I’ll be the first to admit your “take” on Trump is plausible, though I don’t agree with it because I don’t think it gives Trump enough credit for knowing what he was getting into.
I believe he knew EXACTLY what he was getting into, hence his unparalleled ability to shrug off that which sunk other campaigns.
I think Trump is, and always was, a solid conservative judging by the way he lived his life and ran his affairs.
However, I also believe his public persona was a “part” he needed to play to move at the highest levels of glitterati needed to solidify his “brand.”
Your post is excellent and says it all.
Merry Christmas!