Many are familiar with the saying, “We have met the enemy, and he is us.” For the Democratic leadership, as eager as they are to direct their criticism towards President Trump in the upcoming year, they first need to confront a more immediate challenge: self-reflection.

Firstly, one must ponder the question, who exactly comprises the “Democratic leadership?” This is a query that has been posed to figures like former Vice President Kamala Harris and others in the media, yet it often results in vague answers.

Meanwhile, Republicans are more than willing to amplify their portrayal of the Democratic Party’s leaders as they head into the midterms and beyond. They are quick to spotlight figures such as Zohran Mamdani, the newly elected socialist-leaning mayor-elect of New York City with his “fleece the rich” agenda; Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York; and Rep. Jasmine Crockett from Texas. This trio has been associated with a wealth of far-left rhetoric—criticisms of law enforcement, advocacy for open borders, calls to “defund the police,” and proposals for radical economic changes like universal income. These positions could potentially mobilize millions of “common sense” voters to rally against their policies in the 2026 and 2028 elections.

Most know the expression: “We have met the enemy, and he is us.”  As much as the Democratic leadership wants to attack President Trump in the coming new year, they first must deal with a much larger problem: the mirror. 

To begin with, who is the “Democratic leadership?”  It is a question a number in the media have asked of former Vice President Kamala Harris and others without getting many good answers.

Republicans will be all too happy to keep spreading the message that the “leaders” of the Democratic Party heading into the midterms and beyond are Zohran Mamdani, the newly elected, socialist-leaning, “fleece the rich” mayor-elect of New York City; Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.); and Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas).  This trio has seemingly provided enough far-left rhetoric (anti-rule-of-law, pro-open-borders, “defund the police” and wreck the economy via “universal income,” etc.) to ensure tens of millions of “common sense” Americans will come out to vote against their policies in 2026 and 2028.

Next, we have Minnesota Governor Tim Walz (D). He is the gift which keeps on giving if you are a Republican, a fan of President Trump, or in favor of not having your hard-earned federal tax money stolen. First, he became the anchor attached to the 2024 Kamala Harris campaign, helping to sink that political vessel through his own personal flights of fancy and provable ineptitude. But now Walz surfaces yet again amid a Minnesota mess of fraud. The story is reminding the public why Trump is entirely correct to push for a regulated and secure immigration system, while also fighting to ensure that immigrants don’t game the system to abuse Americans’ natural generosity.

Under Walz’s leadership, Minnesota has become the poster child for the issues of both immigration and fraud.  Billions are alleged to have been stolen or misappropriated — shocking allegations which have naturally spurred many to look much more deeply into the finances of other blue states led by Democratic governors.  Gavin Newsom’s California, anyone?

All of a sudden, more and more Americans are starting to wonder how many tens of billions of their taxpayer dollars have potentially been stolen in these blue-democratic cities and states.  Republicans did not cause them to think that way, but rather repeated Democratic miscues in those cities and states.

For a brief, shining moment, some Democrats believed they had stumbled upon an issue that would hurt Trump and the Republicans heading into 2026: “affordability.”  Not so much anymore.

On its own, the scandal in Minnesota derails that potentially winning issue, since it bothers tens of millions of hard-working American citizens who often have so little for themselves and their families. It is hardly “affordable” to have Democratic policies, enabled by Democrats’ incompetence, make a mockery of their understanding and kindness toward newcomers.

But now we also have the nation’s GDP growing at a “blistering 4.3 percent” annual pace. Fears about inflation are subsiding, thanks to strong wage growth and Trump’s own affordability policies. That is an economic victory for Trump and the Republicans, and it has to be cited in every left-of-center news outlet across the country.

To one extent or the other, bread and butter issues are always top of mind for most Americans, especially the working class. And no matter which narrative the Democrats use to attack Trump, those same Americans realize that he is the first true businessman to inhabit the Oval Office in their lifetimes — a massively successful one at that, who has built an iconic global brand.

As we head into the new year and its critically important November elections, several questions arise for the Democrats as they gaze into the mirror:  Who are we? Have we confused the American electorate with our split personalities?  What can we honestly tout as a victory?  How will we deal with the coming civil war with the far left if we pretend to be more centrist?  And how many more misappropriated-money shoes are still to drop?

In the meantime, Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and the Republicans are in charge. They will gladly stand aside and let the public’s focus fall on all the Democratic infighting to come.

Douglas MacKinnon is a former White House and Pentagon official.