Perhaps…
But I think the game is much bigger than that. I recall when Bush Jr. Called Iran and North Korea an axis of evil. I found the comment odd at the time, as the two countries were obviously not good to their people… But otherwise seemingly unrelated to each other.
Yet… Here we are.
I think we are, perhaps, assuming that Trump needed to be driving the efforts against the cabal from early on… When many people have been casting their lots against the cabal or getting their kicks in where they could. Trump was able to be the point man they could rally behind - the untouchable who could breach the entry.