USA Play dead or attack? The Democrats' Trump dilemma
US President Donald Trump is turning the country upside down with radical policies and shaking the foundations of the rule of law - and the Democrats... Yes, what actually? There seems to be great disagreement within the party about how to counter the Republican who has returned to the White House. One Democratic strategist recently gave the party some drastic advice: play dead.
24.03.2025, 08:09
SDA
"Let the Republicans collapse under their own weight and make sure Americans miss us," wrote James Carville in the New York Times, addressing his party colleagues. He is considered one of the main strategists behind Bill Clinton's successful 1992 presidential campaign. "I am calling for a strategic political retreat," Carney wrote.
In fact, however, the Democrats do not seem to have a clear strategy on how to deal with Trump politically. Three examples of how the party is reacting to Trump and his policies:
A left-wing grassroots movement
At 83, Bernie Sanders is older than the ousted former President Joe Biden. But the left-wing senator, who unsuccessfully fought for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2016 and 2020, is a fixture in US politics. He is well connected and has a loyal following. However, he probably no longer wants to go to the White House.
Nevertheless, he is currently one of the loudest critics of Trump and is rallying thousands of left-wingers across the country at his appearances with the "Fight the Oligarchy Tour" - as he did at the weekend. You have to be blind not to see that there is a government of billionaires in the USA today, controlled by billionaires and made for billionaires, he told NPR.
So who could take his place in the race for the candidacy in 2028 - and represent the progressive wing of the party? Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez seems to be positioning herself. The 35-year-old is a prominent representative of the left wing of the Democrats. She came to prominence in 2018 when she defeated an established Democrat in the New York primaries.
It remains to be seen whether Ocasio-Cortez is really aiming for her party's presidential candidacy - and it is certainly too early for her to commit. But in the past few days, she has made several appearances together with Sanders and many people have come. Both are campaigning for a grassroots movement against Trump - in other words, a political or social movement that comes from the grassroots of the population.
The trailblazers
* Gavin Newsom
1. https://dpaq.de/xTt4Gw0
Right now, the Democratic Party doesn't have an obvious leader that everyone rallies behind. But there are a few who are breaking cover - most notably California Governor Gavin Newsom. The 57-year-old has long been rumored to be eyeing the White House. When the debate broke out last summer about Biden withdrawing his candidacy, his name was repeatedly mentioned as a potential successor. As is well known, however, the choice fell on Biden's then deputy Kamala Harris.
Now Newsom, who is actually known as a model liberal, is taking an interesting path. In his new podcast, Newsom said that he thought it was unfair for trans women to compete in women's sport. In doing so, he broke with a Democratic position. The selection of guests in his podcast is also remarkable. Among them is the ultra-right publicist Steve Bannon. Newson chatted with him in a relaxed tone - he also let Bannon repeat the lie about fraud in the 2020 presidential election, in which Trump lost to Biden, without being contradicted.
The Democrats are sometimes seen as elitist and out of touch in the USA. They are accused of being too preoccupied with identity politics and not taking the concerns of the working class seriously. Newsom's strategy is likely to be to counter this criticism and win back lost voter groups with more conservative positions. There are differing views within the party as to whether a kind of populism from the left or a centrist policy with a focus on traditional values is necessary to win elections.
* Walz, Harris and Co.
1. https://dpaq.de/xTt4Gw0
Another old acquaintance who is currently appearing conspicuously often in the public eye is Tim Walz. The governor of Minnesota wanted to move into the White House alongside Harris as his running mate. Now he has organized several civic forums in the Midwest and given a series of interviews. "I would argue that the road to authoritarianism has been paved with people who say: you're exaggerating," said the 60-year-old in an interview with The New Yorker, referring to Trump. Asked about a possible candidacy, he said: "I will do whatever it takes. I certainly wouldn't be arrogant enough to think it has to be me."
In a recent poll of Democratic party supporters on the 2028 presidential primaries, the once-failed candidate Harris has the most support if she were to run (36%). Far behind in second place is former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg (10 percent). Ocasio-Cortez, Newsom and Walz share third place with 5 percent each. Harris is currently considering whether she should run for the governorship of California, which is up for election in 2026.
Dispute
The Democrats are in the minority in Congress - but they are not completely toothless. Nevertheless, their behavior in parliament is a prime example of a lacking concept. Instead of unity and strength, they demonstrate division and disunity. It all started with the party's clumsy reaction to Trump's speech in Congress. Instead of a common message, there were anti-Trump signs here, coordinated color choices for clothing there - and some members of Congress didn't even show up.
However, there was an open rift during the vote on the budget. The question was whether the Democrats would support Trump's Republicans' funding bill or accept a government shutdown in order to express their protest. There were a number of good arguments for and against both options for the party. However, instead of agreeing on one option and defending it, a strategic super-GAU occurred.
While the Democrats in the House of Representatives voted almost unanimously against the budget, Chuck Schumer, the minority leader of the Democrats in the Senate, performed a U-turn. He ensured that the budget passed the House with the necessary votes from his party. The reason: the price is too high, it's not worth fighting here. It is reminiscent of the advice to play dead first.
Since then, criticism of the 74-year-old has been unrelenting and there have been calls for his resignation. There is also the question of whether the Democratic leadership in both chambers is even talking to each other seriously. In any case, there was poisoned praise from Trump for Schumer's change of heart: "Congratulations to Chuck Schumer for doing the right thing."
