The notion that Trump was some sort of model conservative whatever.. not even sure where the hell that came from.

Trump is friend of the conservative because he tries to appeal to the everyman and doesn't throw them under the bus to virtue signal. He wants to be everybody's president, not just a narrow majority coalition that excludes whoever the media calls fringe radicals. He listens to the "deplorables" and acknowledges their concerns, even if he's not going to do everything they want.

It might be misplaced affection after the right had been rejected by all other politicians for so long. (like falling for the first person who smiles at you after a bad relationship) Leftists at least had Democrats throwing them identity politics bones and free gibs. Nobody appealed to conservatives, only "Conservative Inc." Republicans catered to their big business donors and spoke general platitudes of Americana to pull on the heartstrings of patriots, while acting no different than Democrats when they had power. (reserving actual appeals to the base for when they were out of power and could exploit ideology for fundraising)

Trump is friend of the conservative because he tries to appeal to the everyman and doesn't throw them under the bus to virtue signal. He wants to be everybody's president, not just a narrow majority coalition that excludes whoever the media calls fringe radicals. He listens to the "deplorables" and acknowledges their concerns, even if he's not going to do everything they want.