[President Donald Trump is already testing the limits of Hill Democrats who have vowed to be less antagonistic the second time around. Just days into his second term, Trump is once again baiting his political opponents and scrambling their playbook in real time.
Privately, Democrats have largely agreed it’s time to end the capital-R resistance to the newly sworn-in president. However, Trump’s decision to free those who violently attacked police officers protecting the Capitol four years ago has scrambled that plan.
“This guy makes it pretty hard to want to work with him,” said Rep. Don Beyer (D-Va.). “I mean, come on. He’s pardoning these people who went after our police officers just a few years ago and now he’s pushing to deport other violent criminals. It’s apples and oranges.”
The party’s attempt to usher in a new era of receptiveness with the White House is turning out to be more complicated in practice. Some Democrats, like Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-N.Y.), acknowledge that the party needs to be more disciplined in its politics to avoid its more reactionary tactics.
“We should not just have knee-jerk reactions to be opposed to everything,” Suozzi said. “We really should focus on what it is they’re trying to pass.”
The way forward for Democrats is unclear, with different factions within the party having different ideas on how to approach the Trump presidency. Some, like Rep. Susie Lee (D-Nev.), are urging the party to focus on showcasing its economic vision and attacking the GOP almost exclusively on issues of cost, while ignoring all but the most egregious Trump actions.
Meanwhile, the party is grappling with how to handle the second Trump administration, which began with a flurry of executive orders and a decision to free January 6 rioters. Top Democrats, like Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries, have been urging members to stick to substantive policy differences, rather than personality clashes and social media clapbacks with a president who won the popular vote.
As the party tries to find its footing, the dynamics of the Trump presidency are being put on full display in confirmation hearings, with some senators battling over the qualifications of Trump’s Cabinet nominees. The party is also trying to navigate the changing media landscape, with some lawmakers acknowledging that they have fallen behind in the social media era and others arguing that they need to find a way to get their message out better.
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