This is a great article about the changing nature of deficit politics, but more historical perspective would have shown that this did not begin with Trump. Since Reagan, the GOP has only cared about the deficit when a Democrat is president. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/02/business/economy/republicans-deficit.html?smid=tw-share
After all, in 2002 VP Dick Cheney told Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neil that "Reagan proved that deficits don't matter."
https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2004-01-12-0401120168-story.html#:~:text=Former%20Treasury%20Secretary%20Paul%20O,of%20a%20looming%20fiscal%20crisis.&text=O'Neill%20said%20he%20tried,off%2C%20O'Neill%20said.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2004-01-12-0401120168-story.html#:~:text=Former%20Treasury%20Secretary%20Paul%20O,of%20a%20looming%20fiscal%20crisis.&text=O'Neill%20said%20he%20tried,off%2C%20O'Neill%20said.
With admirable candor, Rep Mark Walker (R-NC) said in 2017: “It’s a great talking point when you have an administration that’s Democrat-led." https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2017/9/28/16378854/mark-walker-deficit
This @AnnieLowrey article is excellent and includes Mick Mulvaney's admission that "My party is very interested in deficits when there is a Democrat in the White House.” https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2020/12/fiscal-responsibility-doesnt-mean-what-it-used-to/617365/