‘Sharks can smell blood’: MAGA said to be ‘eating its own’ in battle over Trump succession

An analyst Wednesday described the MAGA battle unfolding over President Donald Trump's succession as infighting has ensued within the Republican party.

The Guardian's Moira Donegan wrote in an opinion piece that cracks have emerged in the Trump administration and MAGA as the president's influence has begun to lessen.

"The sharks can smell blood in the water. After a decade in eerie command of the Republican party, with primary voters in his cult-like thrall and down-ballot elected officials feeling they have no choice – and often no inclination – to diverge from him, Donald Trump suddenly seems not quite in control of his own political machine," Donegan wrote.

Trump appears to show signs of his age, snoozing during a cabinet meeting and looking pale. His tariffs are unpopular and expected to be struck down by the Supreme Court. His past associations with late financier and convicted child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, including details of their interactions and social connections during the early 2000s, have continued to plague him, reigniting scrutiny of Trump's relationship with Epstein. New questions have raised about the extent of their friendship during a period when Epstein was known to be engaging in inappropriate behavior with underage girls.

Republicans have begun to look to the future without Trump at the helm.

"The old man won’t be around forever; Republicans are beginning to imagine what the country – and more importantly, their own careers – will look like without him," Donegan wrote.

Signs that the Trump era has neared its end have surfaced, including Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) and her public split with the president, according to the analyst. And she won't be the only Republican to break with him.

"As Republicans continue to face strong headwinds from anti-Trump sentiment going into 2026, and as Trump himself dwindles in popularity, accumulates liabilities, and proves unwilling to compromise on his demands or reward loyal Republicans, it is likely that more and more GOP representatives will be looking for the exits," Donegan explained.

"Meanwhile, Maga has begun to eat its own, with infighting over Epstein, antisemitism and economics slowly beginning to turn Trump’s operatives against each other as they jockey for position. The Trump era is not over – far from it – but we may be seeing the beginning of its next phase: what is likely to be a bleak, bloody, and belligerent battle of succession," Donegan added.