The MAGA world is devouring itself. The euphoria of Donald Trump’s return to power has faded, and internal divisions, both ideological and personal, are now threatening the coalition that made his success possible. The US president pretends to be indifferent. “Don’t forget, MAGA was my idea,” he recently reminded Fox News viewers. “I know what MAGA wants better than anybody else, and MAGA wants to see our country thrive.” While his role as the movement’s founder can hardly be disputed, the battle for its future has begun. It increasingly involves those who know Trump cannot seek a third term in 2028 under the Constitution – and those who know his authority is beginning to crack.

This battle does not concern the diehard Trumpist faithful, who repeat his words like liturgy. It is not unfolding within traditional political circles, such as Congress. Rather, it is taking place within the unique, primarily online ecosystem of this nationalist populism. The struggle is about purity, about defining the founding concept of “America First,” involving factions that see the president as a vehicle for their ideas.

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