Political leaders from both the Republican and Democratic parties have largely opted for a strategy of silence as President Donald Trump approaches the milestone of his first 100 days in office on April 30.
The Trump administration has rolled out an array of policy shifts—from immigration to tariffs—but, notably, there hasn’t been a substantial wave of resistance from many politicians, especially Democrats, says University of Michigan expert Jonathan Hanson of the Ford School of Public Policy.
What is your assessment regarding both political parties?
The flurry of executive actions unleashed by the Trump administration is unlike anything we’ve seen in our history. The strategy is to overwhelm the opposition through the sheer scope and audacity of these measures. Many of these orders quite clearly exceed the powers granted to the president under the Constitution. Trump is simply daring Congress and the courts to stop him.
Democratic leaders have, thus far, failed to lead a coordinated opposition. They may disagree on tactics, with some seeking to fight with every tool they have available and others believing that they can mostly wait and let Trump sink himself under the weight of his own actions. Meanwhile, Republicans who believe in our constitutional order are likewise mostly staying silent. Some admit to a fear of retaliation from Trump and his followers.
There are signs of opposition starting to build, and it likely will be fostered by the economic fallout from the chaotic implementation of Trump’s tariffs and growing awareness of the administration’s other actions.
How do politicians, who strongly opposed Trump before his election, balance their actions now? A recent example is Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, who visited the White House earlier this month.
It’s a challenging calculus for governors, universities, law firms, and the like. The administration is using federal power and money to reward those who cooperate and punish those who don’t. Whitmer came to the president seeking support for items on our state’s agenda, and she got put into a no-win situation.
We’ve seen stories involving midterm elections as more individuals announce their candidacies. How soon should the political parties rev up their efforts?
The midterms are quite far away, given the emerging constitutional and economic crisis. Political mobilization from Democrats should not be about positioning for 2026, but rather about leading a coordinated opposition with clear messaging right now. This is not politics as usual.
In general, how are Republican voters feeling these days about the early stages of Trump’s second term?
I suspect there’s quite a wide range from the true believers to those who like the general policy ideas but feel Trump is going too far, to those who cannot fathom what Trump has done to the party. The present-day GOP indeed is unrecognizable from the party of Ronald Reagan, who stood up to Russia, who believed in free trade and who spoke of America as a shining city on a hill that welcomed immigrants.
What impact will the subdued actions by the Democratic Party have on mobilizing its base and shaping its platform in the future?
Democratic voters are looking for someone to fight for them. There is a deep outrage about the direction Trump is taking the country and Democratic politicians should recognize that. If they do not fight, their voters will find someone else who will. They should do more than just expect they will win in 2026 because of anger about Trump. They need to provide a clear and positive alternative agenda.
Written by Jared Wadley for Michigan News
