The Democrats’ Missed Chance
Published in Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung
(Germany) on 11 November 2025
by Sofia Dreisbach (link to
original)
Since the presidential election one year ago, the Democrats have chased after Donald Trump and his Republicans. They have tried to trip them up and bring them down, but they haven’t even made the Republicans stumble. At least not until the government shutdown, which a majority of Americans blame on Trump’s party.
And now? Seven Democratic senators and one independent, who are on average 70 years old and either set to retire or won’t be up for reelection for at least three years, have decided for the entire party that it will give up this fight, too.
You Can Only Fight Evil with Evil
They argue the shutdown had become too painful for millions of Americans. Food stamp assistance is not being paid on time; there is growing chaos at airports; and Thanksgiving is approaching. All of this is true. However, in 2019, it was the Republicans who caved in to the flight chaos. Americans have just made it clear to the Democrats in multiple elections that they support this fight. You can only fight evil with evil, as the party is slowly learning. But if their own ranks ultimately break under Trump’s pressure, even that won’t help.
The fig leaf for the decision was the promise that there would be a vote on extending federal health insurance subsidies, without which more than 20 million Americans will soon pay at least twice as much per month. However, House Speaker Mike Johnson put a stop to that. He says he didn’t promise anyone anything.
The Democrats have missed their biggest chance so far to resist Trump. They can now continuously remind Americans about their higher health insurance premiums before the midterm elections next fall. But they must also prove to voters that they can form a united front against Trump.
Maybe next time in January, when Congress must negotiate the budget again.
*Editor’s note: President Trump signed a funding bill on Nov. 12 ending the government shutdown.
And now? Seven Democratic senators and one independent, who are on average 70 years old and either set to retire or won’t be up for reelection for at least three years, have decided for the entire party that it will give up this fight, too.
You Can Only Fight Evil with Evil
They argue the shutdown had become too painful for millions of Americans. Food stamp assistance is not being paid on time; there is growing chaos at airports; and Thanksgiving is approaching. All of this is true. However, in 2019, it was the Republicans who caved in to the flight chaos. Americans have just made it clear to the Democrats in multiple elections that they support this fight. You can only fight evil with evil, as the party is slowly learning. But if their own ranks ultimately break under Trump’s pressure, even that won’t help.
The fig leaf for the decision was the promise that there would be a vote on extending federal health insurance subsidies, without which more than 20 million Americans will soon pay at least twice as much per month. However, House Speaker Mike Johnson put a stop to that. He says he didn’t promise anyone anything.
The Democrats have missed their biggest chance so far to resist Trump. They can now continuously remind Americans about their higher health insurance premiums before the midterm elections next fall. But they must also prove to voters that they can form a united front against Trump.
Maybe next time in January, when Congress must negotiate the budget again.
*Editor’s note: President Trump signed a funding bill on Nov. 12 ending the government shutdown.
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