Vice President JD Vance said Friday that President Donald Trump has become the de facto leader of the Democratic Party—not because of support, but because of opposition. In an interview with Fox News’ Bret Baier on Special Report, Vance argued that Democrats have no unified leadership or vision other than resisting Trump at every turn.
“To the extent the Democrats have a leader, Donald J. Trump is the leader of the Democratic Party,” Vance said. “Because they’re just against everything that he does.”
The vice president pointed to Trump’s push for American manufacturing and immigration enforcement as policies that should have broad appeal. Instead, he said Democrats reflexively oppose anything associated with Trump, regardless of its merits. “Who could possibly disagree with rebuilding American manufacturing or deporting violent illegal aliens?” Vance asked. “But they do.”
Vance’s comments come as Democrats face a crisis of leadership following Trump’s landslide defeat of Kamala Harris and Tim Walz in the 2024 election. According to a March CNN/SSRS poll, the Democratic Party’s approval has plunged to just 29%, its lowest on record. The same poll found that a third of respondents could not name a single leader who represents the party’s values.
Among those named, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez led with 10%, followed by Vice President Harris, Sen. Bernie Sanders, and Rep. Hakeem Jeffries. When Baier asked Vance if AOC could become the new face of the party, Vance quipped, “President AOC, the stuff of nightmares.”
Vance also dismissed Democrat prospects for the 2028 race, saying the party lacks substance and unity. “If I wake up in a fantasy world where the Democrats actually have constructive ideas, that’ll actually be a good thing. But in the world that we actually live in, the politics of 2028 will take care of themselves,” he said.
With names like Gavin Newsom and Ocasio-Cortez circulating as possible contenders, Vance warned that the Democrats’ fixation on Trump may prevent them from presenting a coherent alternative.
