It occurred to me this morning that if you believe that there is no such thing as objective truth, and that “truth” is consequently dictated solely by power, then power itself creates a kind of legitimacy. There is every reason to believe that Trump accepted this view in 2016, and he may believe it today.
His supporters do not, however. The power theory only works if your rule is a series of unbroken successes. Any regime built on it is consequently unstable, and succession is a problem without a good solution. It is far more likely , therefore, that the reactionary right will base its claims on a divine mandate than on the awesomeness of one man.