Top Democrats Choose to Avoid Engaging in Trump Outrage Cycle This Time
This time, their approach to Trump is significantly more subdued.
TroibNews 
When President Donald Trump issued pardons for Jan. 6 defendants, many potential 2028 Democratic candidates largely refrained from commenting, and few engaged in the outrage surrounding Elon Musk's gesture during Trump’s inauguration celebration.
Recent developments offer insights into the approach that seems to be emerging among Democrats as Trump embarks on his second term, marking a stark departure from the fervent resistance that characterized their response in 2017. Democratic leaders at both state and congressional levels are primarily seeking opportunities to critique the president while also promoting bipartisanship and showcasing a Democratic alternative at the state level.
In conversations with over a dozen Democratic officials and strategists, the consensus is that the party is recalibrating after significant losses and is taking a wait-and-see approach regarding shifts in public sentiment towards Trump. The political landscape has become less favorable compared to 2017; Trump won the popular vote and saw all 50 states shift to the right in 2024. Currently, 13 House Democrats represent districts won by Trump last November, while about 50 hold seats that Kamala Harris won by 9 points or fewer. Notably, turnout to protest Trump's inauguration was minimal.
Michigan state Sen. Mallory McMorrow observed, “Democrats are being more measured because people are just so tired, so there isn’t the energy to stay at an 11 for the next four years.” She advised, “My advice is, call it out, be blunt, but don’t shriek about it.”
However, for many aspiring leaders eyeing the 2028 Democratic primary, Trump’s pardons and Musk’s salute—actions that would have prompted widespread outrage years ago—did not elicit immediate reactions. Prominent figures such as Former Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz chose not to comment publicly or on social media. Similarly, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, California Gov. Gavin Newsom, and former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg also remained silent. Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro did respond to inquiries about Trump’s pardons, while Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker stood out by calling Musk’s gesture “outrageous” and denouncing Trump’s actions.
Democratic strategist Mike Nellis stated, “Joe Biden is leaving as a very unpopular Democratic president, we lost the popular vote and people are pissed at us over inflation, culture and the border. We have to change our tact because we have to earn people’s trust back.”
Facing this new dynamic, one Democratic adviser to a potential 2028 candidate noted that Democrats are “not going to use the playbook from 2024 or 2017” and cautioned against rushing to the cameras every time a controversy arises. They emphasized that “that’s the old playbook.”
Another adviser remarked, “The path to prominence is not in endless resistance headlines,” while a third operative mentioned that “a bunch of 2028-ers are still thinking through what their argument is going to be for how to fix the party, so it’s hard to be out there without a solution in hand.”
This more subdued strategy has created a messaging vacuum that has led to frustration among some Democrats. A Democratic strategist expressed concern, saying, “It’s a big concern that we are rudderless” and noted there’s “a space out there for someone to fill,” but “right now, it’s deafening.”
There’s a sense that missed opportunities abound. As one strategist who previously worked on a 2020 presidential primary reflected, “If you’re thinking of running for president in 2027, I understand why your advisers are saying, keep your head down and pick your spots. No one wants to stick their head up yet, but they’re also over-learning their lesson of 2017 and 2018.”
This operative believed that there remains “grassroots energy” on the left, but “they’re not seeing anybody take the mantle.”
Exceptions do exist. Notably, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who did not attend the inauguration, stated in an Instagram video, “Two of probably the most foundational, defining things about American history is that we beat the Confederates and we beat the Nazis,” in reference to Musk. She asserted to comedian Jon Stewart on his podcast that Trump is “much more normalized this time around,” but insisted that working-class voters continue to be “ripped off” by Trump, whom she described as “a quintessential New York con man.”
Others contend it’s premature to draw conclusions. Rep. Ro Khanna noted, “It's been the first week, and it's such a deluge, but we will, in this tax fight, really find our sweet spot of highlighting how he's been for tax breaks for the wealthy and not for the working class.”
During the 2024 general election cycle, both Harris and Walz sharply criticized Trump and Musk, although Democrats recognize that maintaining a low profile after an electoral defeat is not uncommon. After the recent certification of election results, Harris remarked that a “peaceful transfer of power” should be something “Americans take for granted,” an implicit nod to the Jan. 6 insurrection.
Walz has since proposed a sales tax cut in Minnesota but hasn’t re-engaged in national politics. Whitmer stated her intention to avoid seeking conflicts with Trump but confirmed she wouldn’t hesitate to confront him if necessary, speaking at the Detroit Auto Show last week. Newsom even welcomed Trump upon his arrival for a wildfire damage tour in Los Angeles, despite not being invited.
The broader inertia within the party is also evident in the race for Democratic National Committee chair, which has focused more on party mechanics than ideology or messaging. The leading candidates, Ken Martin of Minnesota's Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party and Ben Wikler of the Wisconsin Democratic Party, share a commitment to building a long-term campaign infrastructure and revitalizing state parties nationwide.
The muted response to the party's 2024 losses in the DNC chair race led Faiz Shakir, who previously managed Bernie Sanders’ 2020 campaign, to enter the fray. He acknowledged the “lot of fatigue” among Democrats but noted the “hesitancy to define a Democratic brand right now,” reflecting the current tone of the DNC chair race.
Shakir asserted that there remains a framework to challenge Trump based on his failures to serve working people, pointing out, “he’s up for auction,” a reference to the group of Silicon Valley billionaires present at the inauguration. He concluded that discussing “the ruling elites” may feel uncomfortable for Democrats, as it’s language they haven’t employed in some time.
Ally Mutnick contributed reporting.
Olivia Brown for TROIB News
Recent developments offer insights into the approach that seems to be emerging among Democrats as Trump embarks on his second term, marking a stark departure from the fervent resistance that characterized their response in 2017. Democratic leaders at both state and congressional levels are primarily seeking opportunities to critique the president while also promoting bipartisanship and showcasing a Democratic alternative at the state level.
In conversations with over a dozen Democratic officials and strategists, the consensus is that the party is recalibrating after significant losses and is taking a wait-and-see approach regarding shifts in public sentiment towards Trump. The political landscape has become less favorable compared to 2017; Trump won the popular vote and saw all 50 states shift to the right in 2024. Currently, 13 House Democrats represent districts won by Trump last November, while about 50 hold seats that Kamala Harris won by 9 points or fewer. Notably, turnout to protest Trump's inauguration was minimal.
Michigan state Sen. Mallory McMorrow observed, “Democrats are being more measured because people are just so tired, so there isn’t the energy to stay at an 11 for the next four years.” She advised, “My advice is, call it out, be blunt, but don’t shriek about it.”
However, for many aspiring leaders eyeing the 2028 Democratic primary, Trump’s pardons and Musk’s salute—actions that would have prompted widespread outrage years ago—did not elicit immediate reactions. Prominent figures such as Former Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz chose not to comment publicly or on social media. Similarly, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, California Gov. Gavin Newsom, and former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg also remained silent. Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro did respond to inquiries about Trump’s pardons, while Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker stood out by calling Musk’s gesture “outrageous” and denouncing Trump’s actions.
Democratic strategist Mike Nellis stated, “Joe Biden is leaving as a very unpopular Democratic president, we lost the popular vote and people are pissed at us over inflation, culture and the border. We have to change our tact because we have to earn people’s trust back.”
Facing this new dynamic, one Democratic adviser to a potential 2028 candidate noted that Democrats are “not going to use the playbook from 2024 or 2017” and cautioned against rushing to the cameras every time a controversy arises. They emphasized that “that’s the old playbook.”
Another adviser remarked, “The path to prominence is not in endless resistance headlines,” while a third operative mentioned that “a bunch of 2028-ers are still thinking through what their argument is going to be for how to fix the party, so it’s hard to be out there without a solution in hand.”
This more subdued strategy has created a messaging vacuum that has led to frustration among some Democrats. A Democratic strategist expressed concern, saying, “It’s a big concern that we are rudderless” and noted there’s “a space out there for someone to fill,” but “right now, it’s deafening.”
There’s a sense that missed opportunities abound. As one strategist who previously worked on a 2020 presidential primary reflected, “If you’re thinking of running for president in 2027, I understand why your advisers are saying, keep your head down and pick your spots. No one wants to stick their head up yet, but they’re also over-learning their lesson of 2017 and 2018.”
This operative believed that there remains “grassroots energy” on the left, but “they’re not seeing anybody take the mantle.”
Exceptions do exist. Notably, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who did not attend the inauguration, stated in an Instagram video, “Two of probably the most foundational, defining things about American history is that we beat the Confederates and we beat the Nazis,” in reference to Musk. She asserted to comedian Jon Stewart on his podcast that Trump is “much more normalized this time around,” but insisted that working-class voters continue to be “ripped off” by Trump, whom she described as “a quintessential New York con man.”
Others contend it’s premature to draw conclusions. Rep. Ro Khanna noted, “It's been the first week, and it's such a deluge, but we will, in this tax fight, really find our sweet spot of highlighting how he's been for tax breaks for the wealthy and not for the working class.”
During the 2024 general election cycle, both Harris and Walz sharply criticized Trump and Musk, although Democrats recognize that maintaining a low profile after an electoral defeat is not uncommon. After the recent certification of election results, Harris remarked that a “peaceful transfer of power” should be something “Americans take for granted,” an implicit nod to the Jan. 6 insurrection.
Walz has since proposed a sales tax cut in Minnesota but hasn’t re-engaged in national politics. Whitmer stated her intention to avoid seeking conflicts with Trump but confirmed she wouldn’t hesitate to confront him if necessary, speaking at the Detroit Auto Show last week. Newsom even welcomed Trump upon his arrival for a wildfire damage tour in Los Angeles, despite not being invited.
The broader inertia within the party is also evident in the race for Democratic National Committee chair, which has focused more on party mechanics than ideology or messaging. The leading candidates, Ken Martin of Minnesota's Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party and Ben Wikler of the Wisconsin Democratic Party, share a commitment to building a long-term campaign infrastructure and revitalizing state parties nationwide.
The muted response to the party's 2024 losses in the DNC chair race led Faiz Shakir, who previously managed Bernie Sanders’ 2020 campaign, to enter the fray. He acknowledged the “lot of fatigue” among Democrats but noted the “hesitancy to define a Democratic brand right now,” reflecting the current tone of the DNC chair race.
Shakir asserted that there remains a framework to challenge Trump based on his failures to serve working people, pointing out, “he’s up for auction,” a reference to the group of Silicon Valley billionaires present at the inauguration. He concluded that discussing “the ruling elites” may feel uncomfortable for Democrats, as it’s language they haven’t employed in some time.
Ally Mutnick contributed reporting.
Olivia Brown for TROIB News
