Staff Reports
The liberal response to Trump’s 2024 election victory has been a spectacle of apathy rather than outrage, a vast departure from the fervor that characterized the aftermath of 2016. Back then, the left was mired in protests, melodrama, and a ceaseless onslaught of media bluster about the imminent demise of democracy. Fast forward eight years, and one would be hard-pressed to find the unhinged protests that once defined the left’s theatrics. Instead, it seems the “Resistance” has taken an extended vacation, leaving behind a sense of defeat rather than the frenzied chaos of marches and rallies.
The current landscape reveals a stark difference in the Democrats’ behavior. The anticipated demonstrations and organized resistance have succumbed to a sense of resignation. This time around, feelings of disappointment are palpable among Democratic voters, particularly women, but the sheer shock that ignited their past activism is notably absent. Political analysts suggest that the intensity of emotion is waning, and some are even positing that this could signal a dangerous disillusionment with traditional forms of activism. The left, it seems, has allowed itself to become accustomed to the unexpected results that once sent them rushing to the streets.
This time around, the members of the resistance appear strangely subdued. It could be due to the dual reality of what @SamAdlerBell calls "pre-exhaustion" and "non-novelty." https://t.co/OX3BjiL3IN
— Shadi Hamid (@shadihamid) November 25, 2024
Despite a few individuals vocally supporting the failed progressive agenda—especially among blue-state governors—there’s a sense that the left is recoiling from the consequences of their own actions. The plans for protests surrounding Trump’s inauguration are yet to be seen, with many wondering if those who previously rallied against the prior administrations have grown weary from a continuous string of protests that span from one crisis to the next. The recent engagement in pro-Hamas demonstrations, strangely juxtaposed with their anti-Trump fervor, might have dulled their activism instincts, leading to a reactive state rather than a proactive one.
Meanwhile, as the Democratic party attempts to rally its forces, there’s a notable lack of coordination or strategic planning—a stark contrast to the protest-filled streets of 2016. Reports indicate that even left-wing donors are hesitant, scratching their heads over whether their funding can reignite the same fervor that once fueled the protests that became emblematic of the Resistance movement. It’s becoming increasingly obvious that the left is struggling to find a coherent voice, let alone a unified front against Trump’s agenda.
In short, many observers are left to conclude that Trump, in his typical fashion, has managed to not just win the election but also demoralize his opposition. The once fervent critiques seem muted, the protests have diminished, and the movement known as the Resistance appears to be losing its grip. Trump seems to have achieved what many declared impossible—the vanquishing of the so-called Resistance, rendering it almost comically ineffective in the face of his political tenacity. The current state of affairs suggests that for all their noise, the left has lost not just their elections but their spirit as well.
