He was? There wasn't a republican in the 2016 election who could have motivated the surprise turnout of rural voters in the way Trump did to beat Hillary. Do you really think Jeb! or John "boy" Kasich would have beaten Hillary? I don't.
Sure, Trump lost in 2020 and that was a short term blow but in the mid- to long-run the democrats will reap the whirlwinds of Biden's incompetent and mean spirited presidency.
And Trump gave the GOP a whole new group of loyal voters who will make a difference in election after election, like they did yesterday.
The fact remains that Trump did better among Blacks & Hispanics then any republican candidate in the modern era. And those inroads will pay a great dividends going forward.
IMO the evidence supports the idea that republicans and conservatives are stronger because of Trump. It was messy for sure but in the end it helped the right that the great Orange Monster came down that escalator.