The early days of the second Donald Trump era in Washington is a trying time for Democrats, especially party leaders.
Democrats are out of power, Trump is dominating the airwaves and his polls are good. Trump is slashing the federal workforce and dishing out executive orders while Democrats are stuck on the defensive.
And with former President Joe Biden and former Vice President Kamala Harris out of the picture, rank-and-file Democrats are taking out their frustration on their Hill leadership.
Fairly or not, the heat is on Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, who are bearing the brunt of intra-party criticism.
While party activists want a re-run of the 2017 “Resistance” and anti-Trump movement, Democratic leadership knows this is a very different moment. Trump won solidly in November, even carrying the popular vote. He led Republicans into the Senate majority. Trump’s polls are better than ever. Average Americans aren’t going to get upset that federal workers are being laid off, not with a $1.9 trillion deficit and $36 trillion debt.
Schumer and Jeffries are honing in on an economic message to explain exactly how Trump’s spending and tax cuts will affect their lives. Yet all the messaging in the world is unlikely to satisfy irate party activists who loathe Trump.
For now, Democrats will have to bide their time before two deadlines that allow them to gain back leverage: the March 14 government funding showdown and the upcoming debt-limit cliff.
Let’s start with Jeffries, who is facing his toughest leadership test yet since taking over from Nancy Pelosi.
Numerous House Democrats from across the ideological spectrum are questioning whether Jeffries’ cautious, low-key approach is the best antidote to Trump’s bombastic attacks.
“Our constituents are going to continue to call and ask for us to do more and we shouldn’t be insulted by it,” said Rep. Delia Ramirez (D-Ill.), a Congressional Progressive Caucus member. “We can’t have Congress business as usual … I certainly am going to be talking to our leadership about what we are able to demonstrate not just in our caucus, but to the general public.”
Rep. Vicente Gonzalez (D-Texas), a Blue Dog who often breaks with his party, said he’s had “some good meetings” with Jeffries so far, but it’s early to see how the New York Democrat will handle leading the party.
“We’ll see,” Gonzalez said of Jeffries. “His profile is going to increase as time passes. He’s new at this job, and you’ve got to give him some time.”
Behind the scenes, the criticism is even sharper, with rank-and-file Democrats complaining that Jeffries isn’t hitting Trump hard enough and is shutting out complaints during caucus meetings.
Jeffries is in his third year as House Democratic leader, but he’s a far cry from achieving Pelosi’s iconic status. During Trump’s first term, she often went viral for going head-to-head with the president.
Under heavy scrutiny from his own side, Jeffries has stepped up his rhetoric against Republicans.
Pelosi also said she has “great confidence” in Jeffries’ ability to be a key messenger for the party in his own way.
Jeffries, who unveiled a 10-part plan last week to combat Trump, downplayed colleagues’ concerns that he’s being too cautious. Jeffries told us Democrats’ work is still “ongoing,” and the party is prepared to take on “rightwing extremism that is being unleashed on the American people.”
In a House floor speech on Monday, Jeffries lambasted Republicans’ “bait and switch” tactics, saying they promised to “lower the high cost of living but do nothing about it.”
Jeffries’ allies also pointed to the New York Democrat’s calm composure as a positive counter to Trump’s recklessness.
“When you have critical times that we’re in, you need somebody at the helm that’s not just emotional and that is thinking it through and strategizing,” Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.) told us. “Discipline is absolutely key.”
Let’s turn to the Senate. Schumer, who was Democratic leader during Trump’s first term, recently drew backlash online for some cringe-inducing press conference moments that were criticized for inartful messaging. There are also complaints from party activists about Senate Democrats voting for Trump nominees.
To his colleagues, Schumer is touting how Democrats are using litigation, oversight, communication and legislation to combat the GOP. Here’s an interview he did with the NYT’s Mara Gay on this topic.
Senate Democrats know that these measures mean little when they’re in the minority. Their message to an angsty base? We feel your pain, but we’re doing the best we can.
“I understand their frustration. I’m just as distressed by what Trump is doing,“ Sen. Andy Kim (D-N.J.) said. “I wish we had more tools. Until we have one of the chambers of Congress, we’re not going to have quite the level that we want.”
Here’s Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), who’s won twice in the battleground state of Georgia:
A good encapsulation of the base’s frustration came at a recent pro-USAID rally when Democratic protesters drowned out senators with chants of “Do your job!”
