Trump will have a primary with fewer competitors than 2016 (not hard). DeSantis is the clear runner up.
The liberal media and fox news will swoon over DeSantis. Everything Trump says will be rejectedout of hand by the media but DeSantis could say and mean the exact same thing Trump says and will be praised. Because only the character of Trump is what they reject, not his politics. Therefore, through DeSantis, Trump's politics will become normalized.
Trump still beats DeSantis and the media will try to denormalized Trump's politics again as though nothing happened.
Trump runs 2024 with Donald Jr as his running mate, understanding his first born is both sycophantically loyal and couldn't be less of a threat.
They win.
Trump survives his second term.
Russia-Gate happens all over again, recycled like it ever accomplished anything the first time around. Impeachments happen to no effect.
Donald Jr tries to run in 2028 and loses the GOP primary to DeSantis, who has slightly more of a spine relative only to Jr.
DeSantis loses to Mitt Romney running as a Democrat, with Liz Cheney as his running mate.
Parts of this feel so likely it hurts