This is an opinion column.

Donald Trump can’t seem to decide between DeSanctimonious, DeSanctus, or Meatball Ron these days. The former president’s preferred political strategy demands a combative foil. In Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, Trump finds himself looking at a younger and more disciplined reflection. Trump’s return to the White House depends on him successfully laying waste to a political candidate built in his own image.

DeSantis, who rose to national prominence as a staunch ally of Trump during his presidency, has largely followed Trump’s playbook on governing. He embraces a populist agenda, cracks down on illegal immigration, promotes election integrity laws, and fights cultural “wokeism” with abandon.

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He has also adopted Trump’s combative and media-savvy style, railing against the “fake news” and the “radical left,” while cultivating his own loyal base on social and conservative media outlets.

If Trump’s ego allowed him to pass the torch to another political star, DeSantis would be the heir apparent. The very notion infuriates Trump, who sees himself as unique, irreplaceable, and singularly capable of making America great again.

Trump craves a political enemy. Jeb Bush and the Republican field certainly didn’t see Trump coming in 2016. He quickly ground “low energy” Bush, “lyin” Ted Cruz, and “Little” Marco Rubio into submission. Legacy politician Hillary Clinton was absolutely perfect fodder. Even President Joe Biden provides the predictable, condescending return Trump savors.

DeSantis is too similar to Trump in both policy and style to be a credible foil.

As such, Trump’s primary strategy is to create a fictional version of DeSantis: a disloyal, ungrateful, inexperienced, and uncharismatic wannabe who is trying to steal his thunder and his base.

Trump is already reaching to suggest that DeSantis will cut Social Security and Medicare. The man who maintained the employment of Dr. Anthony Fauci routinely criticizes DeSantis over his handling of COVID. At a time when Bud Light and Target feel the acute financial pain of conservative outrage, Trump is bizarrely on the side of Disney for no other reason than hoping to distinguish himself from DeSantis. Lying and twisting DeSantis’s record are certainly tools of Trump’s trade, but Trump’s followers still remember the president’s support for DeSantis.

It’s not connecting as he hopes. In fact, it’s mostly awkward.

By attacking DeSantis, Trump risks alienating some of his own supporters who like both men and would prefer them as allies. Trump’s supporters relished Trump’s attacks on Democrats. They cheered as he railed against “establishment” Republicans. Now that DeSantis is the target, all but the most strident are conspicuously quiet.

In truth, Trump supporters loved the Florida governor until Trump told them that they shouldn’t. Even now, many MAGA acolytes hope that the two will mend fences and DeSantis will agree to run as Trump’s VP.

Ironically, Trump’s political venom is seeping back to poison his own candidacy. He trashed Biden on account of his advanced age. Now Trump looks far more out of touch than the much younger DeSantis. Branding the likes of Mitt Romney and John McCain as “losers” was useful to Trump at early stages of his political career, but now he’s the candidate on the ballot with a losing record. DeSantis campaigns fresh off a landslide victory in Florida.

By Trump’s own past electoral standards, DeSantis is the better candidate. In fact, most of the other Republican candidates would be. Trump has a penchant for quickly abandoning losers.

The long look in the mirror must be maddening for Trump. Even his trademark nicknames are weak.

One of the two candidates has certainly changed. My money is on the guy who says disgraced New York Governor Andrew Cuomo handled COVID better than the Republican governor of Florida.

President Joe Biden is as politically popular as a colonoscopy. Trump might be able to beat him. Any other Republican candidate definitely can. Is the Republican Party’s goal to placate Trump’s ego or ensure that Biden is a one-term president? I, for one, am a conservative who is tired of Republicans snatching defeat from the jaws of victory on the national stage.

No, I’m not asking MAGA Republicans to choose a moderate “establishment” candidate in the primary. Each MAGA voter should look at the field and apply Trump’s standard for McCain and Romney. Be at least as loyal to Trump as the former president is to the people who helped him along the way. Then vote. Do that honestly, and Biden will have the opportunity to retire earlier than expected.

Smith is a recovering political attorney with three boys, two dogs, a bearded dragon, and an extremely patient wife. He’s a partner in Triptych Media, a business strategy wonk, and a regular on talk radio. Please direct outrage or agreement to [email protected] or @DCameronSmith on Twitter.