Repubs traded in their defining ideology of small gov't, fiscal conservancy, personal responsibility and family values when they got outwardly exposed (with Trump's help) that all of it was utter bullshit. Having being stripped bare of that window dressing for all the world to see, what else could they do but point fingers away from themselves to hide that fact by spewing hate, fear, suspicion, rumor mongering and spreading ridiculous conspiracy claptrap.
They've got nothing to offer the middle class and the poor of the nation (including btw, their own working class members)in the way of giving to them everything that in true ironic fashion the Democrats have been trying their best to legislate in their favor. In its place, the GOP political cadre are pushing border walls, being racists and supremacists is morally and religiously fine and dandy, religious extremism wins votes and blessing the very wealthy with everything they're asking for at the expense of everyone else.