This exemplifies the collapse of the Republican party.
Back in the day, the Bush/Cheney team exerted almost total control over the party. Republicans all followed their Leadership, and pronouncements by Bush or Cheney were thought out ahead of time, and then reinforced all down the line by party members.
That rigid command structure was ultimately weakened by the lack of voter confidence in Bush foreign policy, the economy, and Katrina. By 2008, Bush was basically alone, and the party never again had that deference to leadership.
Now Trump just makes it up as he goes, no advance planning, no Team to disseminate the Talking Point of the Day. It's all chaos, and so elections are lost, year after year.