I think you're conflating Trotskyism, thought based on the works of Trotsky, with Trots. Regardless of what Trotsky wrote and believed, Trots generally oppose AES and are generally defined by that and bringing up Stalin and Stalinists to bash at every opportunity, even when it doesn't have anything to do with the topic at hand.

EDIT: Also I swear to god they fucking read What is to Be Done and come to the conclusion "We gotta start a newspaper in 2024!"