What is going on right now didn't just start with Trump. He is the manifestation of a move that the GOP started some time after Newt, around the time of GW.
For a while, the GOP around the time of Reagan and Newt actually thought they could make GOP majority in this country. They thought that he Contract on America was the outline of a political underpinning that could win majorities. Karl Rove during the Bush II administration talked about "Republican Majorities for the foreseeable future". Compassionate conservatism was the mantra for it. But then Bush lost his republican majority, in a major way by the by, and there was an specific effort to change strategy.
The GOP would no longer pursue a majority. They devised a plan based upon the construct of the constitution to gerrymander and suppress voters such that they could govern with a "ruling minority". And it's working. Gerrymandering has given them a greater representation than they could achieve through votes. They control the Senate even though it represents about 33% of the voters. They control the Supreme Court as well, and have for decades despite being the minority party most of that time. Even though many of their positions enjoy only about 30 - 40% popularity with the population, they still manage to cut taxes, run up deficits, and avoid gun control, minimum wages, and dismantle the ACA.
For a long time, really since about FDR, the GOP was the "loyal minority". They knew they were in the minority but could push legislation in a more conservative direction by cooperating on legislation. But both Eisenhower and Nixon both knew that some things had to be done. Heck, Nixon started the EPA because even the GOP knew that we had to clean up the air and water. But those days are over. There is no more "loyal minority". The minority seeks to govern and as their minority shrinks, they seek to govern with an ever shrinking base of support.
It will end some day, but it probably won't be pretty.
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