An 8.20pm Christmas Day tweet from conservative commentator Rowan Dean was a reminder of where Sky After Dark pundits, the far right, and MAGA converts want Peter Dutton to take the federal election campaign: “Full Trump.”

It was the internet equivalent of an awkward post-lunch contribution from extended family (before nap time): A bit cringe, but everyone very keen to see where it goes.

But Dean’s prediction that Labor is finished, and his festive recommendation to the Opposition Leader, is not isolated or in any way haphazard.

Following Trump’s upgrade to version 2.0, there is increasing energy behind the idea that the US president-elect’s recipe for electoral success may be a winner for the Coalition in 2025.

What does “full Trump” mean exactly, and can it really be applied in Australia?

It’s difficult to define. The president-elect continually reinvents the boundaries of political discourse. He’s managed to stay ahead of outrage fatigue by escalating his rhetoric and behaviour. Dutton, by contrast, operates in a political system that punishes unpredictability. In pushing division, he must be careful not to tread........

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