Senator Adam Schiff (D–Calif.) expressed his deep frustration with what he described as the Democratic
Party’s failure to mount a unified, coordinated response to President Donald Trump during an interview with ABC’s Jonathan Karl on Sunday.
Schiff criticized the lack of focus on issues that matter most to American families.
He argued that during the State of the Union address, the president spent nearly two hours speaking
without offering concrete proposals to address the soaring cost of living.
“I believe the absence of a coordinated response in the State of the Union was a grave error,” Schiff said.
“It diverted attention from the critical issues—like how the president could help lower costs for everyday
Americans struggling to afford a new home, pay their rent, secure healthcare, or manage child care expenses.”
Schiff’s comments were part of a broader discussion about the Democratic Party’s overall messaging.
He specifically addressed critiques raised by Senator John Fetterman, who characterized the party’s response as
“a sad cavalcade of self-owns and unhinged petulance.” Schiff countered that the Democrats’ inability to maintain a clear,
unified message on economic issues was directly linked to the nation’s struggles with the high cost of living—a challenge
that he believes contributed to their loss in the last election.
“They’re destroying the economy and making it progressively more difficult for Americans to afford basic necessities,” Schiff asserted, though his claim contradicts recent economic data.