Compared to 2016, 2024 had a *way* different feel. It used to be, normal people had a sense that there was a "uniparty" 0bama-McCain, 0bama-Romney, etc. In 2016, you could accuse Trump of a lot of things but the fact that Democrats and establishment neo-cons hated him gave Trump a sense of credibility. In 2016, Trump was offensive and even if you didn't agree with it, you could at least say it was funny. I don't think 2016 Trump was /ourguy/ but I do think he was a loose cannon and was in it for his ego.
Trump has no principles. He saw that playing the part of "America-loving conservative" was going to be easy when all your opponents are sackless dweebs and he nailed the part... and that's all it was, a part in Trump's ego-driven production. If Trump was 10 years younger and just now getting into politics, he could pull off the same stunt with the Democrats since they are in such disarray. Just tell them what they want to hear and don't be an evil witch like Hillary, a doofus like Biden, or a cackling hyena like Harris, maybe lean into the forgotten "blue dog" democrat and he'd get thunderous applause.
All of that is to say that I think the *ahem* "establishment" saw that Trump had half the country in the palm of his hand and cut a deal so he could lead them through the back door of the uniparty slaughterhouse with no questions asked because after all, no one questions the motives of /ourguy/, especially when he said things like "because you'd be in jail", "only Rosie O'Donnell" and "the wall just got 10 feet higher".
Neocons have adapted by wearing populism as an orange skinsuit.
They likely have a general game plan but react to cultural shifts.
I really think that Trump was supposed to be the dupe candidate for Clinton in 2016 but people actually went for him. That's why the establishment media freaked the fuck out. If this was all part of the plan, they wouldn't have needed to go so far out on a limb attacking him.
I also think there are factions within the uniparty that agree with the overall plan but still vye with each other for power. I think Trump led a bit of a coup and had to be put in his place with Biden. However, on seeing the popular unrest, the other factions agreed to let him be president again in exchange for certain favours (maybe war in Iran?).
The "assassination attempt" was a clear signal that a deal was cut. If the SS/CIA wanted him dead, he would have been; they let the gunman get 100 yards away and ran a serveillance drone over the site mere hours before the rally. But he was never going to be able to do anything except make Trump look badass and galvanize the people they'd need to fight their war for them.
Now all sorts of MAGAtards are gearing up to defend our greatest ally. Would they have done that for Harris?