One slightly against the grain way to think about it is the GOP declining to write a platform *underscores* their commitment to the orthodox conservative policy ideas that happen to cut against much of Trump’s rhetoric and framing.

If you wrote a 2020 platform there would be a lot of pressure to align it with things Trump claims to believe like we need price controls on prescription drugs, regulation on big technology companies, no cuts to Social Security, and worker-oriented industrial policy.

But Republicans mostly don’t believe those things, don’t enact laws or regulations that include those ideas, and don’t appoint judges who would uphold them.

With no platform, Trump can just say whatever and then governance can continue as usual.