They think he is their Lisan al-Gaib, the mahdi, the one who will lead them to paradise. He wasn’t bred to be the Republican Bene Gesserit [1] Kwisatz Haderach; he arrived generations too early, before they were ready, and is not in their control. He lacks discipline [2], and he will bring the jihad.
Reagan his Leto, Gingrich his Hawat, McConnell his Stilgar.
[1] The John Birch Society, but also The Federal Society, and/or American Legislative Exchange Council.
[2] What did he sneak under the table on 6 January? Must have been something big, and evil.