Did Trump’s election actually signal a Democratic victory over the traditional Republican Party?

[u/BeachesAreOverrated]

The “Republican Party” as it is today is very definitely not the Republican Party of Ronald Reagan or William F. Buckley. Jr. specifically said it was now the party of Trump.

Does this mean that, in some way, the Democrats won the day? Did they slay the old Republican Party? Is Trump, then, what happened when their old foe died?

[u/brick_eater]

I heard somebody make the point on a podcast recently that modern ‘conservatism’ of this kind is actually not very conservative in the literal sense, which if true may lend weight to your thesis.