Wow, looks like some Democrats are coming to their senses.
As Donald Trump prepares to take office again, some Democrats—who were once among his harshest critics—are shifting gears and looking for ways to cooperate with him. These same figures, who in the past have called Trump everything from a “wannabe dictator” to a “dangerous fascist,” are now focused on achieving results for their constituents, even if it means setting aside previous hostilities. It seems that the desire to deliver real progress has overtaken the more divisive rhetoric that has dominated politics in recent years.
Take House Democrat Leader Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), who labeled Trump a “pro-Putin conspiracy-peddling, election-denying extremist,” has now said he is open to finding bipartisan solutions with the new administration. In fact, he stated that he would be willing to “work alongside the Trump team wherever possible to find common ground to fox issues for the Americans.” This shift shows that even the staunchest opponents of Trump are now willing to engage constructively, especially when it benefits the nation.
Similarly, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), who has labeled Trump a “threat to democracy” and a “pathological liar,” has expressed interest in working together on certain issues, such as capping credit card interest rates. Sanders has long supported such a measure and has even called it “a very good idea.” While Sanders’ willingness to collaborate may seem surprising given his past comments about Trump, it underscores a growing recognition that bipartisanship is essential to achieving meaningful reforms.
Governors who once vocally opposed Trump are also showing signs of cooperation. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, who compared Trump to Nazis during his first 4 years, has pledged to work hard with the president-elect on infrastructure projects, including the completion of the Portal North Bridge. Murphy even echoed Trump’s own rhetoric, saying that the project would be finished “at a decent time and affordably.” Likewise, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, who criticized Trump’s approach to the military and accused him of being “no friend of the U.S. military,” has now promised to work together on fixing the Francis Scott Key Bridge, that collapsed earlier this year.
On Capitol Hill, centrist Democrats like Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-NY) are finding areas of agreement with the incoming administration, particularly in foreign policy and technology. Torres, who once described Trump as “sinful” and a “criminal suspect,” has pointed to issues such as relations with China, Israel, and advancements in emerging technologies like semiconductors and AI as possible areas for collaboration. This change in tone highlights that even Democrats who have been critical of Trump’s leadership are now more willing to explore common ground.
Even some high-profile figures on the left who have been vocal in their opposition to Trump are now offering their ideas for working with his administration. Cenk Uygur of The Young Turks, who has often been an outspoken critic of Trump, suggested cutting ridiculous Pentagon spending. He also proposed banning generals from taking defense contractor jobs for a decade after leaving the military—a suggestion that Trump Jr. later praised as “a great idea.”
These examples reflect a significant shift in the political landscape. While many Democrats have spent years attacking Trump, some are now ready to engage in constructive dialogue to achieve tangible outcomes. Whether it’s infrastructure, economic reform, or national security, it’s clear that bipartisanship will be critical in addressing the challenges facing the country. For Trump, the willingness of some former critics to work together signals a potential path forward, where results can outweigh the partisan gridlock that has defined much of recent politics.