It appears that some Democrats are having a hard time deciding whether they want to poke fun at Donald Trump or paint him as a terrifying tyrant. During a recent segment on CNN, John Berman sought to clarify the mixed messages being thrown around by none other than California Congressman Eric Swalwell, who had just accused the former president of suffering from cognitive dissonance. If only they could read the room as well as they read their prepared statements.
In a remarkable twist of irony, Vice President Kamala Harris took to the podium to cite a report from The Atlantic alleging that Trump wished for generals reminiscent of Adolf Hitler’s regime. While Harris escalates her rhetoric to new heights, Swalwell’s campaign has been hard at work crafting ads that suggest Trump should be ushered off to the nearest nursing home. This kind of mockery must surely secure Swalwell’s position as the foremost spokesman for Democrats who can’t quite commit to their fear tactics.
When Berman pressed Swalwell about the purpose behind his recent statements, the congressman trotted out the usual talking points. He argued that Trump’s age (almost 80, he reminded everyone) and his apparent inability to hold a coherent thought after standing still for 30 minutes are reasons why the former president should remain far away from decision-making power. With Democrats obsessed with age, they might consider taking a closer look at their own party’s leadership, many of whom are not so spry themselves.
Swalwell’s attempt to draw a line between humor and fascism—an almost laughable juxtaposition—only highlights the sheer absurdity permeating the Democratic narrative. For Swalwell, making fun of Trump is somehow not in conflict with the accusation that he embodies fascist tendencies. Perhaps that’s the new logic Democrats are wielding, where making jokes and alarmist assertions can exist harmoniously, no matter how disjointed they may be.
Despite this chaotic discourse, a deeper question lingers: Do Swalwell and his fellow Democrats actually believe their claims? Polls reveal Trump and Harris in a dead heat, even when a menagerie of third-party candidates is thrown into the mix. This ongoing stalemate may lead some to question whether these bombastic accusations are simply desperation masquerading as strategy. After all, turning a former president into a living cartoon character who supposedly desires military generals of the fascist variety might amuse their base but does little to attract undecided voters.
Swalwell’s campaign tactics serve as a reminder of the lengths to which some Democrats are willing to go—all while trying to navigate a narrative that’s as contradictory as it is convoluted. Maybe the real cognitive dissonance at play is within the party itself, which can’t quite figure out whether Trump is a laughingstock or a looming menace.