‘Where the hell are they?’: Democrats accused of being MIA has Donald Trump steam rolls DC
Donald Trump has been all smiles during his first three weeks. Why wouldn’t he be with the Democrats apparently unable – or unwilling – to fight back.
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It’s been fewer than three weeks but it feels like three years.
So frantic has the pace been of Donald Trump’s new White House, so many executive orders have been signed off, that it can be hard to track what is merely a presidential promise being delivered and what might be an act so beyond his power it could even be illegal.
No sooner have eyebrows been raised at proposals to end birthright citizenship than jaws have dropped about entire government departments being axed and heads have turned at Elon Musk’s DOGE operatives gaining access to very top secret IT systems.
Look online, listen to commentators, and a key question being asked by many of the 48.3 per cent of Americans who did not vote for Donald Trump is: “where are the Democrats?”
President Trump could be for forgiven for having a good old laugh – the lack of opposition is making his job easy.
Robert Reich, who served as the US secretary of labour in the mid-1990s under Bill Clinton, put it more colourfully: “In less than three weeks, Trump has created a lawless, unconstitutional s**tshow. In effect, he’s staging a coup against American democracy,” he wrote online.
“The courts are weighing in, some people are organising at the grassroots — but where the hell are the Democrats?”
Many will dismiss Mr Reich’s comments as hyperbole from a figure on the left of US politics.
But his point about the whereabouts of the opposition holds merit. The Democrats appear to have gone M.I.A.
Mr Trump’s use of executive orders – diktats on how the government should be run – have been prolific.
So far, he has signed more than 50 covering everything from tariffs to transgender people.
That’s more than Joe Biden, who signed fewer than 30 in his first three weeks, and far more than Trump 1.0 over the same period.
Some of these orders are legitimate. Others could cross a line where laws or the Constitution could be broken or Congress’ role usurped.
And it’s not just executive orders. Democrats have made less fuss than expected on the pardoning of 1500 January 6 rioters, Elon Musk’s seemingly unfettered power, the cajoling of federal employees to resign and the threats to invade foreign lands.
‘Crickets’ from Democrats
“What’s been the Democrats’ response to these and other Trump initiatives right out of the pages of Project 2025 (a right wing plan of government Mr Trump insists he is not following)?” asked Bill Press, a former chairman of California’s Democratic Party on political website The Hill.
“Crickets,” he replied.
Website Axios has reported that Democrat Party offices are “being inundated” by phone calls from angry constituents want them to do more to combat President Trump.
Kamala Harris voters, for instance, are raging that President Trump cabinet picks, like vaccine sceptic Robert F Kennedy, seem to be getting an easier than anticipated ride to confirmation.
But University of Kansas professor of rhetoric and political communication Robert Rowland said there were harsh realities Democrats had to face.
“Republicans have the votes in Congress to confirm Trump’s nominees if they stay united.
“And so far they have stayed united,” he told news.com.au.
The Republicans, narrowly, control both houses of Congress. And very few Republicans seem keen so far to openly defy Mr Trump.
“Moreover, attacking Trump’s actions requires Democrats to explain the government procedures and why (they believe) Trump’s actions are dangerous.”
Prof Rowland said public knowledge about policy and how Washington works was low in the US.
“One example: the Affordable Care Act has always polled higher than ‘Obamacare’, despite the fact that they are the same law”.
‘Biding their time’
In addition, where Mr Trump’s axe has fallen is on areas of government many Americans have little love of.
Mr Trump’s disbanding of USAID – the country’s foreign aid administrator – seems to be beyond the scope of presidential powers given its existence is due to an act of Congress. The Democrats letting it slide could set a worrying precedent.
But Americans do not see foreign aid as a priority. The Democrats fighting to save it could be painted as being out of touch.
“I think at least some leading Democrats may be biding their time and preparing to attack the Trump Administration more strongly when the effect of cuts in programs or downsizing agencies begins to hit,” said Prof Rowland.
Indeed, a number of prominent Democrats, like Pennsylvania senator John Fetterman, have embraced some Trump policies.
Prof Rowland cautioned that a full throttled pushback on all of Mr Trump’s actions this early might antagonise Americans.
“I think there is a sense among many voters that Trump won and he should have an opportunity to govern.
“But polling also indicates that many of the proposed actions are deeply unpopular,” he said.
“For many voters, cutting government sounds like a great idea, until they realise the programs being cut help them or their families or friends,” he said.
“This time Trump owns the situation totally. If for example, food prices do not come down, Democrats will point to his promise to cut those prices immediately.”
’Teaspoon to a gun fight’
But others think the Democrats should go for the jugular now.
After Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer stated Democrats weren’t “going to go after every single issue,” Democrat Congressman Chris Murphy criticised the tactic.
“If you let some of these acts of his early days on pass without real protest, it normalises the behaviour,” he said,
“It ends up less likely that you convince anyone to get off the mat later on,” he told The New York Times.
The Washington bureau chief of progressive website Mother Jones’ David Corn echoed these comments in an opinion piece.
“The Democrats are bringing a teaspoon to a gunfight.
“This is not how a party battling for its survival behaves.”
Democrats stir
The Democrats are finally stirring, after several weeks when they seemed paralysed by shock.
They are becoming more vocal about Elon Musk. They believe there is widespread unease about the power of an unelected tech bro.
Mr Trump’s cabinet confirmation votes have also begun to be delayed. There are even fanciful calls for Mr Trump to be impeached – again.
However, it’s also likely the Trump administration is itching for a brawl. It wants the Democrats to pick the wrong battle, to look out of touch, and perhaps line up a Supreme Court battle which could swing in the Republicans’ direction.
Certainly, it’s the courts where the most opposition to Mr Trump’s agenda has materialised.
A funding freeze to vulnerable Americans has itself been at least temporarily frozen; plans to move transgender female prisoners to male prisons are on ice over fears they could be harmed, and the administration’s controversial employee buyout program has been halted.
Mr Trump’s proposed ban on birthright citizenship could make it to the Supreme Court with a fight over whose interpretation of the Constitution is correct.
Prof Rowland said with the Republicans having control over Congress, and few in that party willing to break ranks with Mr Trump, opposition choices were limited.
“The Democrats only real option is to support court cases to block illegal actions.
“And to wait for the policy changes to impact the public and then mount a more aggressive public campaign attacking the Trump Administration.”
An even more pertinent question than “where are the Democrats?” could be “where are the Republicans?” With a few exceptions, the GOP is in lock step behind Mr Trump. They’re either all on-board the Trump train – or some uncomfortable with the President's’ decisions worried what the effect could be on them if they make their feelings known.
Originally published as ‘Where the hell are they?’: Democrats accused of being MIA has Donald Trump steam rolls DC
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