Opposing President Donald Trump is both a blessing and a curse. He is a fierce political competitor who has an extraordinary knack for tapping into the discontents of middle-America. On the flipside, Trump routinely affords opponents ammunition to fight back against him. Examples include his less-than precise language, and Trump’s propensity to disregard constitutional guardrails.

Fortunately for Trump, Democrats appear wholly incapable of capitalizing on his administration’s mistakes. Examples of lost opportunities abound.

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Trump’s “liberation day” tariff regime and the subsequent roller coaster of ever-changing trade policies have not created an economic boom. This week, Trump signed an unconstitutional executive order attempting to criminalize flag burning. The new 10% stake in Intel by the U.S. government, and further rumors that the administration may take stakes in defense companies are both economically illiterate and morally bankrupt. 

Even then, Democrats are now making the bizarre decision to double down on all of the fringe policies that lost them the White House and drove their approval rating into the 30s. The DNC’s summer meeting in Minneapolis began with a “land acknowledgement” claiming that Minnesota is on stolen land. Apparently, no one told them that around 65% of Native Americans voted for Trump in 2024. Later, Minnesota Attorney General Kieth Ellison bragged about suing the Trump administration for “gender-affirming care.” Again, only 30% of Americans support gender transition surgeries and drug sterilization for minors. 

Similarly, in response to Trump’s decision to federalize law enforcement in Washington, D.C. and to send in the National Guard, instead of pointing out the legal issues with this operation, Democrats have decided to downplay the rampant crime rates. Speaking in Minneapolis on Monday, Insha Rahman of the hard-left Vera Institute of Justice told Democrats to avoid taking a “tough on crime” stance and insisted that “migrant crime and carjackings are things that don’t matter to many Americans.”

THE LEGAL CASES AGAINST TRUMP THAT REMAIN IN LIMBO

Sober-minded observers knew that we would get good and bad from a second Trump presidency. The president has not failed to deliver hearty helpings of both over the last eight months. Democrats, however, remain so beholden to their radical base that they are incapable of moderation.

In turn, regardless of Trump’s shortcomings, Democrats are likely to see their power continue to wane.

Brady Leonard (@bradyleonard) is a musician, political strategist, and host of The No Gimmicks Podcast.