Political analyst Mark Halperin and former Democratic National Committee official Lindy Li criticized the Democratic Party’s response to President Donald Trump and Department of Government Efficiency head Elon Musk during an appearance on “Sunday Report.” Both analysts argued that Democrats are struggling to counter Trump’s agenda and have become fixated on personal attacks rather than policy debates.
Since Trump’s November victory, Democrats have been divided on how to respond to his administration. After viewing clips of Democratic lawmakers protesting Musk, Halperin suggested that their approach is misguided. He noted that many strategists advise against attacking Musk personally and instead recommend focusing on the policy changes he is implementing. However, Halperin argued that Democrats are unable to resist direct attacks, which have failed to shift public opinion.
Li echoed Halperin’s concerns, calling the Democratic Party’s strategy ineffective. She pointed out that Trump’s mass deportation policies have significant public support, citing a CBS News poll from February 9 showing that nearly 60% of Americans back his approach to illegal immigration. Li said that Democrats are growing increasingly frustrated by Trump’s rising popularity and are failing to connect with voters in a meaningful way.
She also highlighted the lack of strong leadership within the party, criticizing the DNC’s decision to elect David Hogg as a vice chair. She reminded viewers that Hogg previously advocated for abolishing ICE and defunding the police, positions that have been widely rejected by most voters. According to Li, Democrats have not learned from past mistakes and continue to embrace policies that contributed to their electoral losses.
NewsNation host Chris Cuomo also weighed in, stating that Democrats’ constant condemnation of Trump and Musk makes them look out of touch. He argued that instead of presenting better ideas, they are focused on attacking individuals, which reinforces the perception that they are simply defending the political establishment. Cuomo suggested that Democrats need to shift their focus toward real policy solutions if they hope to regain support.
