A lawyer for Andrew and Tristan Tate claims their case is being used as a weapon inside a Republican power fight, framing it as a headache for Trump and Rubio.

• The theory: allies of Ron DeSantis are pushing the Tate case to trap Trump and Rubio in a no-win spot.
• If the brothers are extradited or let go, Trump risks angering his young male "manosphere" fan base.
• The claim is this is meant to hurt Trump's approval ratings heading into the midterms and the 2028 race.
• The Tates are cast as pawns in a fight between rival Republican camps that dislike each other.

Outlook: Expect the case to stay a political football, with any move on extradition read as a signal about Trump's 2028 standing.