The spark that ignited the movement was Sarah Palin’s acceptance speech at the 2008 Republican convention.
For the first time since Ronald Reagan flew off into retirement, a national political figure was talking about things that the silent majority cared about. The crowds that followed her terrified the Establishment and they set about working to crush her.
The tactics they used were just a warmup for the big game as it turned out. Once the Donald arrived on the scene they dispensed with any subtlety and went balls-to-the-wall to thwart his every move.
And now we’ve arrived at a situation where the federal government is actively conspiring against nearly half its population. With a Chief Executive that closes down before supper time.
We truly live in interesting times
There is no “movement” because it was always there. The GOP has always squelched inherited nationalism and civic pride of the right. Trump just removed the lid.