He felt his party, however, had become ‘completely delusional.’
Democratic Minnesota Congressman and presidential candidate Dean Phillips calls former President Donald Trump’s supporters “thoughtful, hospitable, friendly” after attending a rally for Trump’s 2024 run.
“I saw the line of people waiting in the cold for hours, and I thought, ‘What the heck, I’m going to be a leader who actually invites people, doesn’t condemn them,’” he said. “I met probably 50 Trump people waiting in line. Every single one of them: thoughtful, hospitable, friendly.”
However, they were frustrated, he said, because they felt no one was listening to them but Trump, adding that the crowd was “diverse.”
He felt his party, however, had become “completely delusional.”
“And somebody had to wake us up, and if that’s my job, so be it,” he said.
His words echo a shift in how Trump supporters are being discussed, as heard in JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon’s interview on CNBC when he stated that Democrats should be more respectful when talking about MAGA, referring to the Trump slogan “Make America Great Again.”
He told MSNBC that Democrats are scapegoating Trump supporters, who he said aren’t voting for Trump for his “family values,” but because of his effectiveness in office.
“Just take a step back—be honest—he was kind of right about NATO, kind of right about immigration,” Mr. Dimon said. “He grew the economy quite well. Tax reform worked. He was right about some of China. … He wasn’t wrong about some of these critical issues, and that’s why they’re voting for him.”
Because they are fellow citizens, Democrats should refrain from disparaging Trump voters as they have been doing, he said.
One host agreed, saying it’s “hard to hate 75 million of your fellow Americans.”
Mr. Dimon said that framing Trump supporters as “deplorables” who are “hugging onto their Bibles and their beer and their guns” is not going to help Democrats.
“I mean, really, could we just stop that stuff and actually grow up and treat other people with respect and listen to them a little bit?” Mr. Dimon said. “I think this negative talk about MAGA is going to hurt Biden’s election campaign.”
