When Barack Obama was running for president in 2008, he assembled a movement as much as a campaign. “We are the change that we seek,” Obama proclaimed, and he often suggested that everyone’s work would continue even after the election. Once Obama made it to office, though, he generally kept the door shut, exercising what the political writer Noam Scheiber has called “boardroom liberalism.” There were a lot of reasons this happened—that’s an article in itself—but maybe the biggest one was that Obama didn’t quite believe his own pitch. This led him to squander a powerful resource.

Similar possibilities now surround Donald Trump, whom electors have now officially sent to the White House. His campaign had a lot of parallels to that of Obama—the crowds, the excitement, and the hero worship. His supporters also enjoyed the camaraderie of underdogs with a cause, one that strengthened all the more when Hillary Clinton dubbed them “deplorables,” a lavish gift of branding. The efforts of the “deplorables”—which included self-produced advertisements, viral memes, door-to-door visits, and, yes, online mobbing of enemies—powered Trump into the White House. Now, however, the question is whether Trump does what Obama did and dissolves his grassroots army.

Ten days ago, many signs pointed to yes. In a tug-of-war between populist adviser Steve Bannon and establishment chief-of-staff designate Reince Priebus, the latter—allied with Mike Pence and Paul Ryan—seemed to be winning. Trump had picked establishment-friendly types such as Elaine Chao to the Department of Transportation; Tom Price to Health and Human Services; and Betsy DeVos to the Department of Education. Early Trump staffers complained they were getting frozen out. Most significant was the choice of fast-food mogul Andrew Puzder, long associated with support for increased immigration and amnesty, to head up the Department of Labor. Trump supporters voiced vehement opposition, and #NeverPuzder started trending on Twitter.

Then things seemed to turn around. On Friday, December 9, Puzder released a statement that read like a hostage video. “I will fiercely defend American workers and implement my piece of the ten point plan the President-elect laid out,” declared Puzder (or his handlers). “President-elect Trump’s plan to establish new immigration controls will boost wages and ensure that open jobs are offered to American workers first.” The following Monday, Trump announced his choice of a slightly unconventional nominee for the State Department, Rex Tillerson, signaling a more conciliatory line toward Russia. (Great name, too. No woman ever went wrong with a lover named Rex Tillerson.) Then on Tuesday came the news that Stephen Miller, an immigration hawk who is the clearest voice of Trumpism, would have a role as senior adviser. The “deplorables” had a good week.

We can’t yet know quite how the power balance looks at Trump Tower today, but it’s likely that Priebus has lost some ground with his new chief. Bosses don’t like surprises, and Trump—for all his bluster—seems to have been taken aback by the uproar over taking a telephone call from the leader of Taiwan, a move apparently facilitated by Priebus. That the liabilities of Puzder, another establishment pick, were similarly unexpected became clear when several days elapsed before his damage-control statement was released. Trump is now going to be warier of the advisers behind these choices, and this favors Team Bannon, at least until that team causes some trouble of its own.

Trump’s thank-you tour across the United States should also be seen in light of this intra-party struggle. Detractors call it a self-indulgent victory lap, and The New York Times has described Trump as “unabashedly gloating” over his success. By all appearances, though, Trump intends to build up his political capital and keep his army mobilized, ready to back him up as he goes to battle against the Republican establishment, which, despite the superficial amity, remains a foe. For all his claims to be innocent of his power, Trump appears to know that a tweet can unleash flying online monkeys against anyone in his way—provided that he keeps his truest supporters on his side. Last week, Trump led a victory rally in Wisconsin during which he tweaked Paul Ryan, whose name drew boos before Trump quelled them and sang Paul’s praises. “We’re going to work on the wall, Paul!” Trump said with friendly menace. “You think we’re playing games.”