President Trump isn’t just a figurehead for one American party; he’s influencing both major parties in ways that might be more pronounced with the Democrats than with the Republicans.
Right now, it seems like the Democratic Party is largely defined by its opposition to Trump, struggling to articulate cohesive policies or find strong leadership without his shadow looming over them.
An example of their hesitation is visible in their reaction to the deportation of MS-13 gang member Kilmer Abrego Garcia, who entered the U.S. illegally back in 2011. Garcia, identified as an “active member” of MS-13 (albeit at a low rank), faces serious accusations, including human trafficking and assault against his wife while living in the U.S.
Despite these serious allegations, Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) visited El Salvador last month, along with other Democratic members, seemingly undeterred by the controversies surrounding Garcia.
As more information emerged about him, Democratic leaders began to backtrack. Representative Henry Cuellar (D-Texas) stated that bringing Garcia back to the U.S. wasn’t the right fight for the party, and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries remains reticent about discussing the situation further.
This case serves as a cautionary tale about jumping to conclusions too quickly. But Democrats seem to have made opposition to Trump their default stance, reacting instinctively to his policies and blaming him for various issues.
Recently, a group of Democrats attempted to force their way into an immigration customs facility, displaying their aggressive stance against Trump’s immigration policies. Their oppositional tactics often feed into the narratives pushed by mainstream media, and Trump’s ongoing controversies seem to provide a safety net for Democrats, allowing them to rally support among their base by simply opposing him.
Their entrenched anti-Trump attitude raises some questions about the future. If Democrats rely solely on opposition without generating positive policies of their own, what happens when Trump eventually exits the political scene? They haven’t built a platform based on new ideas or issues; instead, they appear to be stuck in a cycle of opposition that could harm them in the long run.
Democrats find themselves criticizing Trump’s handling of immigration while struggling with their own policies, as evidenced by Biden’s low approval ratings on the issue. The prevailing sentiment is that obstructionism has hindered any real progress and led to public dissatisfaction.
In the wake of Trump’s victory, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker is anticipated to run for president in 2028, citing progressive policies like increased access to gender surgeries. However, even some within the party recognize that such positions may alienate voters ahead of future elections.
It seems Democrats are responding reactively instead of proactively, as evidenced by limited support for their liberal agenda among voters. This reactive stance may not win over any new supporters, particularly in swing regions. Their appeal is mostly confined to deep blue areas, making it difficult to cut into Republican strongholds as seen in past elections.
Furthermore, should Trump leave the scene, it could lead to diminished support for Democrats, who, according to polls, are already exhibiting low approval ratings. This raises the question: what will happen when the party’s identity is no longer tied to resisting Trump?
In short, the Democrats need to focus on crafting positive policies instead of merely opposing Trump. When he’s no longer a prominent figure in politics, simply running against him might not be enough to sustain their political power.
There’s an old saying in politics that you can’t defeat something that stands for nothing. For now, it appears that Trump is that “something” for the Democrats, but their future without him remains uncertain.
