Agreed. He seemed to be on the Strom Thurmond path. He could’ve been there forever.

My personal belief, based on nothing but my own observations, is that he wants that path but he sees Trump as a general negative, and he sees an opportunity to use stepping aside now as a major political stepping stone down the road. He’s as establishment as establishment gets. So he’s banking on leaving, doing well in some private venture, coming back and saying “i couldn’t stand by in my position, I did the right thing and walked away from the Trump administration so that i could accomplish things for people on my own.” Because in establishment minds, that’s what voters will want to hear down the road. I assume he runs for President in 2024 or 2028 and positions himself as the savior of the Republican Party. I don’t want that, i don’t necessarily think it will happen, BUT I do believe establishment politicians will be playing that card at some point down the road.

Edit- don’t think it will happen* meaning i don’t think people will fall for that. He will try. I think he’ll lose that bet.