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Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz shared some stark words for Democrats on Saturday, calling for his fellow party members to "be a little meaner" in the pushback against President Donald
Trump. “It’s because he is,” Walz said at the South Carolina Democratic Party Convention, addressing why he called Trump a “wannabe dictator.” Walz ran as the Democratic vice-presidential
nominee with then-presidential candidate Kamala Harris against Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance in 2024. The former public school teacher was initially praised during the election for his
relatability and Midwestern appeal. Advertisement Advertisement “‘Oh, the Governor’s being mean,’ well, maybe it’s time for us to be a little meaner, maybe it’s time for us to be a little
more fierce,” Walz said. “We have to ferociously push back on this…the thing that bothers a teacher more than anything is to watch a bully.” When the bully is a child, you teach them why
bullying is wrong, Walz explained, but when the “bully is an adult like Donald Trump, you bully… him back.” “At heart, this is a weak, cruel man,” Walz said of Trump. Walz’s comments come
amid wider efforts among the Democratic Party to step toe-to-toe with Trump’s far-reaching and sweeping changes at the federal government, which have seen him attempt to flex his executive
power in unprecedented ways. READ MORE: _Sen. Bernie Sanders Issues Stark Warning About Trump During Surprise Coachella Appearance_ Other efforts from the Democratic Party and beyond include
work by progressives like New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a Democrat, and Independent Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, who are currently holding rallies across the U.S. as part of their
“Fighting Oligarchy” tour, in an attempt to push back against and highlight the growing power of wealthy individuals in and around Trump's government. Meanwhile, leaders like
Connecticut Sen. Chris Murphy are looking for ways to rebuild the Democratic Party, leaning further into economic populism in order to win elections, especially after the economy loomed so
large during the 2024 campaigns. As the left is rocked by just the first few months of Trump’s second term at the White House, Democratic leaders seem eager to embrace new ideas in the hope
they can rebound in 2026 and—eventually—2028.