Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) says there’s definite “room for improvement” when it comes to efforts by Democratic leadership to push back against President Trump.
“We’re seeing, I would say, all of our colleagues are stepping up and recognizing that this is not, to the voters, an approach of ‘Are you far-left or center-left?’ It’s more, ‘Are you bringing old tactics to this challenge or are you bringing new tactics?'” Swalwell said Wednesday in an interview with The Hill when asked how he would grade the job that Democratic leaders are doing in their efforts to challenge the president.
“We have room for improvement,” he said.
“Old tactics would be sending an eight-page strongly worded letter to the administration,” Swalwell said.
Last month, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) touted a “very strong letter” that he and other top Democrats penned and sent to Trump oppose the cancellation of billions of dollars in federal funding for Harvard University.
“New tactics would be using everything we have inside the House procedurally to stop Donald Trump,” Swalwell said, noting a nationwide “No Kings” rally on June 14 and town halls hosted by Democrats in GOP districts.
“Are you willing to recognize this is not a 20th century challenge? This is an existential threat to democracy,” Swalwell, an executive producer on the new film, “Words of War,” added.
“It’s either revealing who should lead or who should leave,” he said.
Pressed on what letter grade he might give his Democratic colleagues in Congress, Swalwell said, “I’m not a teacher.”
“I put my helmet on. I’m back out on the field,” he said.
“I think people will judge me as doing everything I can right now to make sure that we get through, and have the muscle, and the vision to survive this greatest threat to democracy in my lifetime.”
