Democrats should be taking the fight to Trump – the problem is, he's got them battling each other | Jonathan Freedland

Democrats' greatest challenge lies not in defeating President Trump, but in uniting their party against him. Instead, they're often consumed by infighting and divisions, mirroring the very chaos that Trump has instilled in American politics.

The upcoming elections in New Jersey and Virginia, which will determine the state governors' posts, hold significant implications for the Democratic Party. Trump's approval ratings are at an all-time low, making it seem like a cakewalk for Democrats to win these contests. However, the contrast between enthusiasm and desperation is evident.

Take, for instance, New Jersey, where former President Barack Obama will campaign on behalf of the Democratic gubernatorial candidate. This endorsement might give Democrats the boost they need, but a closer look reveals that Trump's antics have made it challenging for them to define their stance against him.

The clash between Zohran Mamdani and Andrew Cuomo in the New York City mayoral election exemplifies this struggle. Mamdani represents the progressive wing of the Democratic Party, with his socialist leanings and strong social media presence captivating younger voters. In contrast, Cuomo embodies a more traditional, centrist approach that has been discredited by some party members.

This divide within the party is not just about ideology; it's also generational. The divide between Mamdani's supporters, mostly in their 20s and 30s, and Cuomo's backroom allies, largely from older generations, is stark. It poses a significant challenge for Democrats seeking to coalesce behind a unified front.

As we look at other contests nationwide, such as the California ballot initiative aimed at redrawing congressional districts, it becomes clear that Trump has set the bar extremely low. His willingness to disrupt traditional norms and conventions makes it difficult for opponents to decide how far they should push the limits of acceptable behavior.

The crux of the problem is that there are no straightforward options when facing a populist president who will stop at nothing to undermine democracy. If Democrats stay above the fray, Trump may exploit this by taking their moderate voices out of the equation. Conversely, if they sink to his level, they risk undermining the very principles they're fighting for.

The age-old adage "if you stick with the old ways, you'll always be second best" seems particularly apt in this scenario. As Democrats navigate this uncharted terrain, one thing is certain: their internal struggles will have far-reaching implications on the national stage and beyond.
 
I don’t usually comment but I think it’s pretty obvious that the Dem party is struggling to find its footing right now 🤔. Trump's antics are making it super hard for them to define their stance against him, and it's not just about ideology - there's a generational divide within the party too 💡. It's like, you've got your progressive youngins like Zohran Mamdani who are all fired up, but then you've also got the more traditional, centrist folks like Andrew Cuomo who are still clinging to old-school values 🤷‍♂️. I mean, Trump's approval ratings are at an all-time low, so it should be cake for Democrats in New Jersey and Virginia... but somehow they're not coming out on top 😐. It's like, what's going on? Are they too busy fighting among themselves or something? 🤯
 
I think the real challenge for Dems isn't beating Trump, but figuring out how to work together 🤝. It's like they're caught in a vicious cycle of infighting and divisions. And honestly, I'm not sure what's more concerning - them trying to toe the line with Trump or them digging their heels in and causing even more chaos 😬. Can't they just find some common ground? The 2 sides within the party are literally speaking different languages 🗣️. It's gonna be a wild ride watching this unfold... 🚂
 
🤔 Democrats are so focused on taking down Trump that they're forgetting how to unite themselves first 🙄. It's like they're stuck in a never-ending loop of "Who's with me?" 🤝 but can't seem to find common ground 🌈. Meanwhile, Trump is just over here like "I'm the crazy guy and I'm gonna shake things up" 😜. The thing is, Democrats have this huge advantage with Trump's approval ratings being all-time low... but they're still not giving each other a chance 💔. And it's not just about ideology, it's also about generations 🤝🏻👵🏻 vs 👊🏻. Can't they all just get along? 🙃
 
I gotta say, I'm low-key worried about the Dems right now 😟. They're so busy fighting amongst themselves that it's hard to see them united against Trump. It's like they're mirroring his chaos 🤯. I mean, come on, if Obama is having to campaign for one of their guys in NJ, that's just embarrassing 🙄. And don't even get me started on the NYC mayoral election - it's like they can't even agree on who's a Democrat anymore 🤔. Trump's got this whole "undermining democracy" thing down pat, and if Dems keep playing nice, he'll just exploit their moderate voices 🔊. It's all about being willing to get your hands dirty, you know?
 
the democrats are playing right into trump's hands by arguing amongst themselves 🤔💡 meanwhile, trump himself is just sitting back and enjoying the chaos like a big cheese 😂 it's almost like he's intentionally sowing discord to further his own agenda. but at the same time, it's hard to blame them for trying to define their stance against him - after all, someone's gotta represent the party 🤷‍♂️
 
😒 I think the biggest challenge for Democrats isn't even about beating Trump, its about finding a way to work together as a party 🤝👫. Like, Obama coming out to campaign for the NJ gov candidate is awesome 😊 but at the same time its like they're all over the place 🔄. Mamdani and Cuomo are literally on opposite sides of the spectrum 💥 and that's not even taking into account the generational divide 🤯. I mean what even is a democratic party anymore? 🤷‍♀️ It feels like its just gonna be one big mess and Trump will just win anyway 😩
 
I feel like the Dem's party right now is so divided lol 🤯 they're all trying to prove a point against Trump but it's like they can't even agree with each other anymore... meanwhile, Trump just keeps on doing his thing and getting more polarized people on his side 🤷‍♂️ it's like he's playing this game of political chess where everyone else is getting checkedmate 😅
 
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