Minnesota Governor Tim Walz urged fellow Democrats to adopt a tougher stance against President Donald Trump during a speech on Saturday.
Speaking at the South Carolina Democratic Party Convention, Walz defended his description of Trump as a “wannabe dictator,” referencing his own run as the Democratic Vice Presidential nominee alongside Kamala Harris in 2024 against Trump and J.D. Vance. He suggested that his previously praised and needed to evolve.
Walz stated, “Some may say the Governor is being mean, but perhaps it’s time for us to be a little meaner, a little more fierce. We must ferociously push back… because, like a teacher watching a bully, we can’t stand by.”
He elaborated that while a child bully needs to be taught the error of their ways, an adult bully like Donald Trump needs to be “bullied back.”
Walz concluded by calling Trump “a weak, cruel man.”
Walz’s remarks are part of a broader Democratic effort to directly confront Trump’s extensive changes within the federal government, changes that have demonstrated his attempts to exert .
Beyond Walz’s comments, figures like New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders are actively holding rallies across the U.S. as part of their “Fighting Oligarchy” tour. This tour aims to counter and highlight the increasing within Trump’s administration.
Meanwhile, leaders such as Connecticut Sen. Chris Murphy are exploring avenues to , increasingly embracing economic populism as a strategy to win elections, particularly after the significant role the economy played in the 2024 campaigns. As Trump’s second term unfolds, Democratic leaders are actively seeking new strategies with the hope of a comeback in the 2026 and 2028 elections.
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