4D chess isn't completely out of the question (Trump does pull out some pretty crazy stuff from time to time),

Even if true, the metaphor is wrong. Trump is a great improviser, he's not a strategist. He doesn't even think one move ahead, let alone several.

I'm still hoping for some genius surprise

During the Iran mess, I was literally coping by thinking: what if Trump uses the bombing to take control over the operation from Israel and force a ceasefire down their throats. Turns out, that is what happened, planned or not. Not in any way justifying his support for aggression and the bombing itself, obviously.

I do not Trust the Plan. I think the Plan is probably to continue doing Elite nonsense, and sell us down the river.

The plan is to do the bidding of those who can hurt them the most (lawfully, peacefully). Which is not us, but the elites. The outcry helps to change that calculus, at least somewhat. Everyone should keep talking about Epstein.