"They're shafted" – US Democrats squabble while Trump triumphs
Internal Strife Among Democrats Overpowers Focus on Countering Trump
Facebook Twitter Whatsapp E-Mail Print Copy Link A rare show of unity saw Republicans sail through a budget transition in Congress last week, with the assistance of ten Democrats. The party faithful are livid, with one representative murmuring about "betrayal". And now?
President Donald Trump marches through Congress, ensnared by the Republican Party's united might. He's bulldozing or maneuvering around almost any resistance so far. They grab the Congress's powers, challenge the judiciary, halt payments, and boot government employees. The Democrats, forced into opposition, merely watch - or join the festivities. At the end of last week, nine senators spearheaded by Senator Chuck Schumer voted in the Senate for the budget to fund Trump's administration. This was no ordinary bipartisan agreement. It was a Republican text laden with financial freedoms.
"I'm getting my fair share of bullets," Schumer declared regarding his explosive move. Even before it was announced, a White House staffer told "Politico" – "They're well and truly screwed. They'll certainly swallow it." Post-announcement, Trump gloated over the Democrat, praising the 74-year-old minority leader and his group of senators. In doing so, the crew averted a potential shutdown but ceded the Democrats, who are in the minority in both Congress chambers, valuable leverage against the Republicans for months.
Many Democrats, including House of Representatives members, are furious – they would have liked to goad an all-out war against the Republicans and tag Trump as responsible. Instead, the conservatives now have until September to come up with a plan to dodge a looming debt crisis and implement Trump's audacious White House demands simultaneously.
"Bust liberal power base"
The Democrats' argument was: Trump and Elon Musk could have utilized a shutdown to impose mass layoffs, cuts, and closures of government agencies. Then, the Democrats would be "made of pressure" by enraged voters and activists, Schumer argued. Musk fronts the "Department of Government Efficiency" alias Doge, dedicated to savings for implementing Trump's plans for tax cuts for the upper-class.[Enrichment Data]
In case of a government shutdown, many federal agencies and programs would be in a deep freeze. Agencies like the FBI and others with law enforcement and security responsibilities would continue their work relatively normally. Social benefits would continue to be doled out. In case of doubt, the White House would decide who continues to be paid and who won't.
And meantime, the party's approval rating plummeted to an all-time low; in the CNN poll conducted since 1992, it was at 29%, the lowest ever. There's no clear favorite for a future leadership role.
Politics Only 29% approval - US Democrats nosedive in poll
Resistance? But how?
Clash erupts among Democrats over party's future
An open rift has surfaced among Democrats over the party's future. The rank-and-file are livid. Washington voters are calling in, puzzled about what's going on. They could even reach out to their representatives and senators during off-session weeks. The progressive faction, a small but vocal one, was already displeased with the leadership. "The weekend Democrats went to war with themselves," headlines the "New York Times". Heads could roll in this battle. Heads that have represented Democrats for decades. Some even speak of a possible "Tea Party" moment for the Democrats – with disgruntled challengers ousting the incumbent political class through primary elections and bringing a new style to Washington. Or perhaps, matching the aggressive tone of the Republicans.
Politics "Schumer's got cojones" – Trump admires Democrats' budget move
The nationwide activist organization "Indivisible," founded during Trump's first presidency, called for Schumer's resignation. The grassroots movement "Pass the Torch" echoed the same demand. Last summer, they also targeted former President Joe Biden's campaign. "Schumer's neither willing nor able to handle the situation," the group explained. His lone task is to combat the takeover of our democracy by MAGA. Instead, he's enabling it directly."
Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, the most prominent voice of the party's progressive wing, didn't rule out a primary challenge to Schumer. Her decision has "ignited a deep sense of outrage and betrayal." But that's still to come – Schumer would have to face a primary challenge in 2028. Schumer has also cast doubt on the number two Democrat in Congress: House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries wouldn't answer whether he still trusted Schumer. "Next question," he deflected.
Schumer's predecessor, Nancy Pelosi, said Trump and Musk had constructed a "false choice" between a shutdown and a blank check for widespread devastating cuts – and some Democrats had fallen for it, "instead of fighting." This isn't acceptable, she argued. Ocasio-Cortez described Schumer's decision as "a massive mistake."
"Neither skill nor courage"
The open conflict over how to proceed during Trump's second term, and beyond, is symbolized by the views of James Carville, an 80-year-old presidential campaign advisor. He suggested Democrats "pull off the boldest maneuver in the party's history" a few weeks ago: turn around and play dead. Republicans would supposedly self-destruct due to the consequences of their policies. "Support for this government will plummet," Carville said.
The advisor belongs to an older generation in Washington that primarily focuses on election years. But since Trump's first presidential bid, the entire political scene may have changed; adapted to the media world. Younger Democratic representatives in the House, who have only known Washington since Trump, discuss in their own chat, according to the "New York Times". They complained about the lack of fighting spirit among older politicians.
Politics "Wrong Choice is Unacceptable" – Democrats Scramble in Face of Trump's Budget "The generation that brought us this far lacks both the skills and the courage to take us to the next step," says Amanda Litman, a strategist from the progressive wing. She's heard from at least six young politicians, more than ever, who want to challenge incumbent congress members in the 2026 primaries. It will be "a matter of style," or the way they communicate; approach, and formats, social media, and corresponding strategies.
A study found that Republican-leaning podcasts and video formats on streaming platforms had five times more listeners than those with Democratic content last year. Nine out of ten most popular shows had a conservative tilt, with a total audience of 197 million subscribers. About 20% of Americans said they regularly obtain information from such influencers; among those under 30, it was almost 40%. [Enrichment Data] Among this voter group, Democrats lost significant support in the 2024 election, 21 percentage points compared to 2020. Republicans gained 9 percentage points.
Democrats are now seeking consensus on what they can do to counter the Republican momentum by the 2026 congressional election and how. At their annual retreat last week, Democrats discussed this. Not much more than "business as usual" was reported. "No one will care how hard you fought in March 2025," Carville told the attendees there, according to the "New York Times": "But how you win in 2026."
Source: ntv.de
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- The European Parliament has also expressed its concern at the recent events in the United States, noting the current political divisions within the Democratic Party.
- Despite the ongoing controversy among Democrats, some Democratic senators, including Senator Chuck Schumer, have defined influence on the budget, potentially having an impact on future government spending and policy decisions.
- In the midst of these political tensions, many influencers, with a vast following, are gaining traction among voters, particularly those under 30, potentially swaying the election outcome in the future.
