Trump paved Ron DeSantis’s way. Now apprentice has turned on master | Cas Mudde

Trump unleashed a revolution that opened the door to people like DeSantis. Now the Florida governor and his supporters want to continue that revolution without its original leader

The day after the midterm elections, the knives were out for Donald Trump. On rightwing social media, people were emotionally debating the alleged toxicity of the former president and his hand-picked nominees, while Fox News highlighted the victory of the Georgia secretary of state, Brad Raffensperger, emphasizing that he is reviled by Trump", while heralding the dominating win" of the Florida governor, Ron DeSantis. A Fox News contributor pronounced DeSantis the new Republican party leader". In fact, the idea that DeSantis is the big Republican winner of the midterms - and Trump the big loser - seems to be the broad consensus in today's media.

There is, of course, at least one dissonant voice: Trump himself. Sensing that the tables are turning rapidly, he went on Fox News to warn DeSantis to stay out of the 2024 presidential election. In his typical mafioso way, Trump said, I don't know if he is running. I think if he runs, he could hurt himself very badly. I really believe he could hurt himself badly."

Cas Mudde is a Guardian US columnist and the Stanley Wade Shelton UGAF professor in the school of public and international affairs at the University of Georgia