NEW YORK — Democrats anticipated this moment.
President Donald Trump had declared his intention to initiate a bold and aggressive campaign aimed at achieving major policy successes immediately upon his inauguration, a strategy detailed in the Project 2025 blueprint that Democrats predicted he would follow.
However, in the aftermath of Trump’s inauguration, Democrats find themselves grappling with the overwhelming number of executive orders, pardons, significant personnel alterations, and controversial links emerging within the new administration.
In a span of less than 48 hours, the Republican president has taken actions to terminate diversity and inclusion initiatives throughout the federal government, abandon the Paris climate accords, prevent the enactment of a federal TikTok ban, and attempt to revoke the constitutional right to birthright citizenship. He has also granted pardons to the individuals involved in the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot, and provided significant advantages to some of the wealthiest individuals globally, raising scrutiny about his commitment to the working-class voters who supported him.
These actions have caused widespread frustration among segments of the Democratic base, complicating their ability to respond effectively in a time when unity is key.
“It feels like a fire hose right now. That’s what he does; he creates a tremendous amount of chaos, making it hard to keep pace,” said Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas, who has directed her team to monitor Trump’s executive orders to help her constituents stay informed.
“It’s overwhelming.”
The Democratic National Committee (DNC), led by outgoing chair Jaime Harrison, is actively responding to Trump’s initiatives, distributing press releases and utilizing social media to counter the president’s maneuvers. This approach stands in stark contrast to how the party operated after Trump’s first inauguration in 2017, which saw protests become the focal point of the Democratic resistance.
Currently, the Democratic leadership is concentrating on the significant role of billionaires within Trump’s nascent administration, echoing President Biden’s earlier warnings regarding the influence of oligarchs.
On Tuesday, the DNC disseminated talking points to its affiliates, urging them to highlight “Trump’s plans to screw over America.” In particular, these points reflect concerns over the new president’s efforts to retract an executive order from Biden aimed at regulating prescription drug costs.
Furthermore, the DNC has spotlighted prominent tech billionaires such as Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos, who received prime seating at Trump’s inauguration, while established governors and major party figures found themselves in secondary positions. Accusations against Musk, including a claim of Nazi salutes during his inaugural address, have surfaced, capturing the attention of both supporters and detractors.
A celebration amongst right-wing extremists surrounding Musk’s gestures has drawn mixed reactions from watchdog groups, suggesting a nuanced interpretation of his actions should be considered.
The arrangement of the nation’s wealthiest individuals at the inauguration provided Democrats with a platform to unify against the apparent elitism, particularly as Trump appointed a significant number of wealthy individuals to key roles within his administration.
Democratic strategist Andrew Bates, who recently departed his role as a White House spokesperson, criticized the Republicans for “mingling with right-wing billionaires” on their first day in command and indicated that they were “plotting tax benefits for the ultra-rich” by the second.
“Republicans have unveiled their true colors, catering only to their affluent donors rather than the average American,” Bates asserted.
Despite the urgency of the situation, the Democratic Party remains divided. Crockett expressed concern that focusing on billionaire issues may not resonate with everyday voters, many of whom might not recognize the significance of the seating arrangements at the inauguration.
“The brilliance of Trump, if I were to commend him, is that he understands the public’s lack of awareness about such matters,” Crockett remarked.
Transitions between presidential administrations typically entail an avalanche of executive orders and administrative shifts, but the second tenure of Trump—a 78-year-old leader with considerable political clout and minimal concern for traditional political procedures—presents a uniquely chaotic scenario.
“Everyone’s processing an overwhelming influx of information,” said Joseph Geevarghese, head of the progressive advocacy group Our Revolution. “There’s a lack of confidence in the Democratic Party’s ability to navigate this moment.”
Additionally, some key figures aligned with the Democratic Party are not heavily invested either.
Billionaire entrepreneur Mark Cuban, a prominent supporter of Democratic nominee Kamala Harris last fall, played down the significance of Trump’s early executive moves.
“He hasn’t really done much yet,” Cuban mentioned. “I’ll focus on his actions as they unfold, but my priority lies in healthcare discussions rather than reacting emotionally to his decisions.”
“Merely being angry isn’t a productive approach,” he added.
Faiz Shakir, a candidate for DNC chair and close ally of Senator Bernie Sanders, expressed astonishment at the elevated status of billionaires in the inauguration, suggesting it might damage Trump’s support among working-class citizens.
“The inauguration has revealed insights into his governing style,” Shakir noted.
Yet, he recognized the challenge faced by Democrats in overcoming “fatigue and exhaustion” among their ranks, which emerges two months following Trump’s victory.
“There exists a growing sense of hopelessness we need to address,” he emphasized.
Crockett urged her party to launch a more systematic effort to inform the public about Trump’s most egregious actions, although she admitted uncertainty about what those actions might be at this point.
“In my view, we can’t tackle everything,” she concluded.
