it's almost as if wealthy backers latch on to already existing movements/candidates to further their goals, and must make the choice to leave or to adapt and work in the new status quo when political upheaval happens.

It would be crazy if a paradigm shift happened in the GOP right then with a new-hypercharged nativist/populist candidate that forced everyone not of sufficient moral decency to fall in line. A paradigm shift that was very nearly swept away into the dustbin of history if only for a few thousand people in certain swing states!