By Neelasha Sudarshan
From cutting tens of thousands of veteran jobs to causing a $6 trillion loss in the stock market to illegally deporting American residents, Trump has made his callousness abundantly clear. During these moments of turmoil, Americans criticize the lack of action taken by the Democratic party in resisting Trump’s harmful policies.
The Democratic party has long been criticized for its lack of mobilization and urgency. For example, when Roe v. Wade was upheld in 1992, protecting women from threats to reproductive rights, Democrats refused to codify Roe into federal law. Their inaction is what allowed Roe to be overturned in 2022, jeopardizing healthcare access for millions of Americans.
Yet again, many Democrats, including Senators Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer, are being criticized for their weak resistance against the Trump administration. But right now, Americans are mobilizing across the nation to protest against the most dangerous people in power, and they’re doing it much more efficiently than most of the Democratic party.
Here are some examples:
The Fighting Oligarchy Tour
featuring Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
Starting in early March, Senator Bernie Sanders began touring cities across the nation under his ‘Fighting Oligarchy’ Tour. Citing enormous tax cuts to the most wealthy 1% and high cost of living for the 99%, Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez declare to the American people that the current US government is made “by and for the billionaire class.” Some of Sanders’ major talking points on tour include vast income inequality and poor healthcare access.
What’s remarkable about this tour is the massive crowds that it’s drawing in. In Denver, for example, Sanders and AOC drew in more than 30,000 Americans. The tour’s crowds are bigger than what both Sanders and Trump drew in when they were campaigning for president (Sanders in 2016 and 2020, and Trump in 2024).
This tour’s enormous support, especially since it is not currently election season, demonstrates that the American people are frustrated with the current administration and are ready to take part in the resistance.
Wisconsin Supreme Court Election
In the recent Wisconsin Supreme Court election, Democrat-backed judge Susan Crawford won by a landslide. Whereas Harris lost Wisconsin by just 1 point in the November 2024 Presidential election, Crawford secured a win by 10 points. The increase in support for Democrats coincides with falling approval rates for Trump and the Republican party since the November election.
What’s more, Crawford won even though Elon Musk spent ~$20 million to support Republican nominee Brad Schimel, going so far as giving out $1 million checks to ‘random’ Wisconsin voters. Having donated $270 million to Trump’s campaign, Musk’s ability to sway electoral outcomes with money seems to be waning.
Democratic Attorneys-General
Before Trump won the 2024 Presidential Election, The Democratic Attorneys-General Association learned how to resist Trump’s policies by thoroughly studying the Project 2025 Handbook.
When Trump entered office and began sending out dozens of executive orders aligned with Project 2025’s goals, the Attorneys-General planned meticulously to block them by proving that the orders violate the interest of the state.
By dividing up lawsuits based on who had expertise and legal standing and working tirelessly, the Attorneys-General were able to block Trump’s orders to end birthright citizenship, freeze federal funding, and reduce medical research grants.
The Attorneys-General’s planned resistance demonstrates that with collaboration, proactiveness, and tireless efforts. With that, Project 2025 becomes an invaluable guide on how to resist Trump’s executive orders.
Because Americans are showing up en masse to vote and protest to the Democratic Attorneys General’s planned resistance, the anti-Trump movement is gaining speed and making tangible change. Now, it’s up to the Democratic Party leadership to stand up for its constituents and uplift those who are already making progress.