I mean that's possible, but also Trump is 100% being managed by the federalist society. He can barely stay awake during meetings, no way he's actually dictating policy.

For the most part, yes, but there are pretty clear Trumpisms that a better fascist would have the intelligence and discipline not to indulge in. The whole tariff fiasco for example was completely unnecessary (which is why it's not in Project 2025), and the sheer mass of unforced errors leading up to and during the Iran war would never be made by someone like Putin or Erdogan. Trump is being manipulated behind the scenes, but he's also head of an increasingly authoritarian executive and can do things without his handlers' approval. I'm certain, for example, that a more competent fascist would've been able to manufacture at least some consent for the Iran war, as well as get traditional American allies on board to some extent. These unnecessary failures keep kneecapping his administration's credibility in ways that would've already been fatal if America had better opposition (though I guess with enemies that bad who needs allies). And this is before we get into factors like Trump's inability to channel his own support into down ballot votes. Hell, at the very least America might've been run by a fascist who can stay awake during meetings.

And that also assumes their was a clear second to take the reins of MAGA that the inner circle would rally behind, power vacuums tend to lead to infighting and without a clear cult leader the low level maga worshipers would likely be in chaos.

Initially, yes, but very quickly the systemic need for fascism would win out, and there'd be a consensus candidate ready to sweep the elections by 2028 at the latest. Again this is hard to appreciate due to how incompetent the anti-MAGA coalition is, but with a martyr and a somewhat competent leader it's perfectly plausible that neo-MAGA would've had bigger—maybe even filibuster-proof—majorities in Congress and more cooperative state governments across the board. As far as fascism goes, this is still easy mode.