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Trump can still be a starmaker for three years, he can still endorse and attack, he can still appoint to sinecures and fundraise for. Any Republican would-be titan can be easily placed in a position of power by Trump, and that won't entirely evaporate upon his death, Sauron like.
Plus, somebody is going to get his dying endorsement, and that will count for something. I don't think enough that it can win anyone the presidency, but probably enough that it can keep any other Republican from winning it.
Trump is sufficiently popular with the GOP base that anyone he endorses will sail to the nomination in 2028 (with the possible exception of family members). For there to be an effectively open primary, you need one of three things:
In all three of these scenarios the 2028 election should be a walk for the Democrats, although the Democrats have got very good at blowing winnable elections lately.
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Agreed, the Republicans I've seen who have political ambition either seem to be jockeying for Trump's favor or attempting to distinginguish themselves from him to try and steal the torch of party leader. Either way, Trump is still the locus of Republican energy and the lions share of political action these days seems to be done in reference to him, not just for its own sake.
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