I just had a heated argument with my brother about illegal immigration. He believes they're all asylum seekers, not illegals. By the end of the conversation, he was defending Democrats and blaming Republicans, which confirmed something I’ve been thinking: Trump’s biggest mistake was treating politics like a business.
Trump essentially executed a "hostile takeover" of the Republican party, rebranding it into something new. But the issue is, many people still associate him with the old Republican establishment figures like Mitch McConnell.
My brother, for example, doesn't see MAGA as distinct from Bush-era Republicans simply because they share the same "R" label. To him, it's all the same. And that’s the real problem—many "normies" can’t differentiate between Trump and figures like Lindsey Graham, especially when Trump publicly aligns with them from time to time.
This is a branding issue. A lot of people don't see MAGA as different from George H.W. Bush. So, whenever Trump speaks, they immediately fall back into the "Democrat vs. Republican" tribal mentality.
Sorry you had to have the heated discussion, I read than and was feeling what it's like because I've been there. It is so frustrating.
Here is an article https://vigilantnews.com/post/200-bush-neocons-endorse-kamala-for-president-slam-trump/ (edit inc link!) (might not be good enough source, might have to find different sources for your audience) but you can try to point out how the Bushites etc are more for Kamala than Trump, shows he is not aligned at least.
It's tough though, because sometimes information doesn't matter. Sometimes I even mention that, but every situation is different, sometimes gotchas don't work, etc.. they need a shoulder squeeze first, if you know what I mean.