Former Vice President Kamala Harris created a stir last week during her book tour when she used strong words to describe President Donald Trump. Her comments got angry reactions from both sides of the political world, with right-wing voices and far-left activists both upset with what she said for completely different reasons.
According to The Hill, Harris got people talking when she called Trump a “communist dictator” while discussing his policies during his second term. The statement immediately made Trump supporters and conservative media angry, who saw it as just more liberal exaggeration. But the pushback did not stop there. Progressive activists and some far-left Democrats also disagreed with her words, with some saying the comparison was insulting to their positive views on socialism and communist ideas.
The fight shows a bigger debate about how Democrats should talk about their problems with Trump’s way of running the country. Some Democratic strategists believe Harris is right to make this comparison, pointing to Trump’s economic policies that look a lot like state-controlled capitalism seen in countries like China. They argue this message could work better with voters than the usual talk about fascism that Democrats have used for years.
Democrats see a chance with economic message
Democratic leaders are now looking at whether comparing Trump’s policies to the Chinese Communist Party could work with voters who normally support free markets. The Wall Street Journal called Trump’s approach “state capitalism,” pointing to how his government has gotten more involved in private business choices.
Trump’s second term has included several moves that critics say look like authoritarian rule. His government has pushed private companies to change their top leaders, used federal agencies to go after media outlets that criticize him, and put more government money into major companies like Intel. These moves have led to comparisons with how the Chinese government controls its economy while keeping a capitalist system. Harris previously blasted Trump as a “tyrant” during a televised interview, saying she was let down by business leaders who stayed quiet about his policies.
The Democratic National Committee has started pointing out these policies as it looks ahead to the 2026 midterm elections. A recent memo from the DNC said lowering prices was the top promise Trump broke since taking office. Democrats think that money worries under Trump, along with his low approval ratings on cost of living problems, could help bring their split party back together. Some businesses have already felt the effects of Trump’s economic policies, with one small business owner learning how tariffs destroyed his company after he supported the president.
Republicans reject the comparisons and talk about their recent wins in Congress, including the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which they say will give tax cuts and economic help to working-class Americans. GOP leaders say they plan to focus on popular parts of the bill while staying away from talking about less popular parts like Medicaid cuts. But recent polls show Trump’s handling of the economy is still very unpopular, with 67 percent of voters not happy with how he is dealing with cost of living problems.