He is not declaring he is a conservative. He is declaring he is a leader who wants to address the same issues that most conservatives want addressed that the establishment self described “conservatives” never will.
It is not any more complicated than that. Trying to make it so only shows you to be disingenuous at best. Caterwauling does not suit you.
TDS sufferers’ minds are made up; it’s best to not confuse them with facts.