Former Obama adviser Van Jones has brutally assessed why the Democratic Party failed in last month’s election and credited Donald Trump with a political insight that has left his critics in the dust.
In conversation with former CNN reporter Chris Cillizza on his YouTube channelJones didn’t hold back, declaring, “Donald Trump is not an idiot. Let me be very clear. Donald Trump is smarter than me, you and all his critics.”
Jones outlined why Trump’s dominance is undeniable: “You know how I know that? Because he has the White House, the Senate, the House of Representatives, the Supreme Court and the popular vote.”
He pointed to the vast ecosystem of media and grassroots support surrounding Trump, coupled with his alliances with figures like billionaire Elon Musk and members of the Kennedy family.
“He has a huge media ecosystem bigger than the mainstream built around him and for him, and a religious fervor in a political movement around him,” Jones explained.
“His best friend is the richest person in the history of the world, and the most relevant Kennedy is with him.”
Jones contrasted Trump’s strategic success with the perceived failures of the Democratic Party.
Jones did not hesitate in his assessment: “We’re the idiots. We have lost. So we have to go back to the locker room and we have to sit down and figure out how the hell we got beat. And if you look at it closely, it’s the arrogance, the elitism, not respecting people, not listening to people.”
Former Obama adviser Van Jones has brutally assessed why the Democratic Party failed in last month’s election
Jones spoke with former CNN reporter Chris Cillizza on his YouTube channel
The longtime progressive activist argued that Democrats have alienated potential allies and allowed their coalition to fall apart.
Jones pointed out that high-profile figures like RFK Jr., Elon Musk and Joe Rogan, who were once Democrats, have since distanced themselves from the party and its ideals.
“RFK was a rebel within our party, he wanted to run fairly against Joe Biden, the DNC wouldn’t let him in and pushed him out,” Jones said.
“Remember, Elon Musk was an Andrew Yang Democrat four years ago – he’s out. Joe Rogan was very supportive of Michelle Obama, he was a Bernie guy – he’s out. Something has happened in this party that means the rebels no longer feel like they have a place, and we need to be able to talk about that honestly.
“If Joe Rogan interviews Donald Trump, 48 million people will watch. More than just watched the debates. The Democrats had the wrong analysis. They didn’t even have the conceptual framework to understand what was happening,” Jones said.
Jones also took aim at Vice President Kamala Harris and made a sarcastic joke about her leadership. “Kamala Harris promised us freedom… well, she delivered, because now we don’t have to run anything in Washington, DC. That’s not what we signed up for, but it’s what we got.”
While critical of Harris, Jones saved his sharpest rebuke for President Joe Biden, saying his decision to seek re-election has cost the party dearly.
“I love Joe Biden. Joe Biden took me out of the puppy pile and gave me the opportunity to work with you. I love him. He should have walked away and let other people in this company take the step. He didn’t, and we paid the price.’
Jones pointed out that it is prominent figures like RFK Jr., Elon Musk and Joe Rogan, who once leaned on the Democratic party, who have since distanced themselves from the party and its ideals.
“Donald Trump is not an idiot. Let me be very clear. Donald Trump is smarter than me, you and all his critics,” Jones said
While critical of Harris, Jones reserved his sharpest rebuke for President Joe Biden, saying his decision to seek reelection cost the party dearly
The ex-Obama adviser urged Democrats to think deeply about their failures and listen to the American people again.
‘The Democrats have been in an anti-Trump bunker for years and only watch him through the periscope. Meanwhile, Trump connected with voters. We are no longer a progressive party. We just became an anti-Trump coalition – and we failed.”
Jones ended with a sobering reminder of the party’s need to meaningfully engage with those who disagree: “We must stop fueling what we are fighting against. We don’t like intolerance? Then we cannot become what we are fighting against. Can we assume that we may not know everything? Can we assume that we need each other? That’s the way forward.’