Since conservatives are mostly RWAs (Right Wing Authoritarians) they have lined up to bootlick the leader of the party for their movement: donnie. See: Ronnie Raygun’s Eleventh Commandment.

But since they know he’s a fucking boat anchor when it comes to ratings, they want to give the appearance to some voters that they are not lined up behind up like good little fascists. But they know that donnie and other types of cons will punish them for showing a lick of independence, they have no other choice but to do bullshit like this.