Former Vice President Mike Pence has been accused of being the "Lifeguard" of the American Right, claiming he is the only person to enforce certain views and discussions among conservatives. His criticism comes from the Heritage Foundation as an institution and its leader, Kevin Roberts, whom Pence has targeted. In an interview with CNN, Pence boasted about trying to recruit Heritage staffers to his new think tank, which he started as a throwback to the era of GOP weaklings who managed the decline of America alongside Democrats. Despite these efforts, the Republican Party has evolved into a more populist and nationalist wing, becoming more populist at the voter level. However, data shows that the party has been transformed into a populist Right party, with only 9% of Trump voters expressing regret over their 2024 ballot choice.