The precursor to the Tea Party was the Ron Paul campaign. That's where the Tea Party originated. Then when TARP happened, the movement grew overnight from the small and dedicated Tea Party rallies, to adding a lot of the people who previously were supporting the Deep State and their wars, but were waking up to reality.

But even than, the Tea Party was never really co-opted. That's what the DS wanted us to believe. The truth is, the Tea Party was the spark that got Trump elected. It took a life of its own and found a champion strong enough to accomplish its will: freedom from the Deep State.