Senator Adam Schiff Criticizes Democrats’ Lack of Strategy Against Trump
California Senator Adam Schiff recently voiced his concerns over the Democratic Party’s failure to present a unified and strategic response to President Donald Trump, particularly during key national events like the State of the Union address.
In an interview with ABC News anchor Jonathan Karl, Schiff reflected on what he believes was a missed opportunity by his party. “The absence of a coordinated response during the State of the Union was a mistake,” Schiff said. “The president spoke for over an hour, and yet there was no clear Democratic message about how to address pressing issues like rising living costs, healthcare, and housing affordability.”
Schiff’s remarks follow criticism from other Democratic leaders, including Senator John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, who recently referred to the party’s approach as a “sad cavalcade of self-owns and unhinged petulance.”
Schiff agreed that more focus is needed on economic issues. “Americans are struggling to afford basic needs, and we have to make that the center of our message. That’s part of the reason we didn’t succeed in the last election,” he said, emphasizing that the party needs to prioritize affordability, healthcare access, and economic stability.
When asked about Democratic strategist James Carville’s controversial suggestion that the party should “play dead” and avoid confrontation, Schiff disagreed. “That’s not a strategy,” he said. “We have to communicate clearly, reach out in new ways, and pursue our policy goals actively — not just wait for the other side to falter.”
Meanwhile, dissatisfaction among Democratic voters appears to be growing. A recent Quinnipiac University poll showed that 53% of Democratic respondents disapproved of how their representatives were performing in Congress, while only 41% approved. Among all voters, approval of congressional Democrats stands at just 21%, tying a record low first set in 2009.
Republicans have also seen fluctuating support. According to the same poll, 79% of Republican voters approved of their party’s congressional performance, but approval among all voters has dropped to 32%, down eight points from earlier this year.
The political landscape has shifted dramatically since last November’s elections, in which Republicans regained the White House and Senate and retained a slim majority in the House. The GOP also made notable gains among traditional Democratic voter groups, including Black, Hispanic, and young voters.
With President Trump now back in office and moving quickly on a number of policy fronts, Democratic leaders are under increasing pressure from their base to take a firmer stand. Many within the party believe their leaders have not been aggressive enough in opposing the president’s actions, and this frustration is showing in both polling numbers and public discourse.
As internal disagreements grow and public dissatisfaction continues, Democrats face a critical period of reflection and potential course correction ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.