In a Wednesday interview with Fox News host Laura Ingraham, Vice President J.D. Vance gave Democratic leaders, including California Gov. Gavin Newsom, some blunt advice.
Democrats are still trying to analyze why they lost the 2024 election to President Donald Trump. Ingraham pointed out that many are now attempting to imitate Trump’s style — using name-calling and adopting a tougher persona. Vance responded with what he called “some free political advice.”
“Stop sounding like crazy people,” Vance said. “That really is all it is.”
He elaborated: “Free advice for Democrats: stop sounding like crazy people. Trump’s success comes from being authentic — just be yourself and talk honestly about the issues. Part of sounding less crazy is being less crazy.”
Vance emphasized that Democrats cannot replicate Trump because his style is genuine and unique to him. “I don’t think it’s that complicated. Don’t be a crazy person,” he added.
He argued that Democrats struggle to resist extreme positions, citing their support for transgender policies and their tendency to call Trump a fascist for addressing crime. “Part of sounding less crazy is being less crazy, and if the Democrats were less crazy, I think we’d all get along a whole lot better,” Vance concluded.
Newsom, who has recently tried to adopt Trump-like tactics to boost his own political standing, was singled out in Vance’s comments. But Vance noted that regardless of his style, Newsom still pushes the same “absurd policy positions.”
According to Vance, Democrats have abandoned bipartisanship, opposing Trump reflexively, which has alienated voters. He suggested that if Democrats made small concessions, they could create a more centrist and appealing platform.
First, he said, they must address crime. With Trump gaining support for tackling the issue, Democrats should back crackdowns — at least in part — rather than defend criminals.
Second, Vance argued, Democrats need to drop race- and gender-based politics, which drive voters away. Instead, he said they should embrace universally accepted values: safer communities and opposition to racism and sexism in all forms.
Currently, he added, Democrats are too blinded by “Trump Derangement Syndrome” to consider that agreeing with Trump might be their only viable path forward.
