Financial Times columnist Edward Luce on Tuesday expressed exasperation that the Democratic Party still appears rudderless in the wake of X owner Elon Musk's unprecedented attack on the United States government.
In his latest piece, Luce slams Democrats for getting constantly caught flat-footed by what he says is an unconstitutional assault on the rule of law by Musk and President Donald Trump.
"Hours after being sworn in, Trump issued a blanket pardon for around 1,500 people convicted of storming Capitol Hill four years ago and commutation for the 14 hardcore felons," he writes. "Eight days later Democratic leaders held a press conference to condemn Trump’s move. The pardons were a green light to future assaults on US democracy — including the one that Schumer could have argued was happening now. Democrats should have said as much that very day."
Luce then took Democrats to task for simply hoping that Trump would make so many mistakes as President George W. Bush did in his second term that voters come crawling back to them by default.
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However, he believes that this would be a major mistake given the speed at which Trump and Musk are unraveling the American constitutional order.
"Democrats seem to overlook that they are in a full-blown war," he contends. "Assuming that they will fight the next election on a level playing field is an act of faith."
Luce concludes by urging Democrats to take what he believes is their surest route back to power: Demonizing Musk.
"Where in the constitution does it say that the unelected richest man in America gets to decide which programs live or die, who to hire and fire, and what contracts to revoke?" he asks rhetorically. "An alert opposition would ask: 'Who elected Elon Musk?' It seems an act of will not to make that a rallying cry. When life gives you a Bond villain, make Bond-villain lemonade."