Several top Democrats at the Hill Nation Summit on Wednesday offered reluctant praise for President Trump’s political instincts, as the party works to regroup after its losses in November and strategize for the future.
Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) acknowledged Trump as a “very talented politician,” despite their ideological differences, while Rep. Jim Himes (D-Conn.), the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, commended aspects of Trump’s foreign policy.
The lawmakers’ measured praise comes as Democrats attempt to regroup from their 2024 setbacks and build momentum heading into the 2026 midterms, where they aim to chip away at the GOP’s slim 220-212 House majority.
“Donald Trump’s a very talented politician, right? I don’t agree with him as a leader. He’s a very talented politician,” Khanna said at the Summit. He praised the president alongside progressive Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) and democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani, despite their stark political split, The Hill reported. Later in the conversation, Khanna contended Democrats have been “way too judgmental” of Americans who voted for Trump.
“We acted as if the problem was the voters; the problem was the party, and we acted with a condescension and a judgment on voters,” Khanna told NewsNation contributor Chris Cillizza.
Democrats have faced difficulty reshaping the party’s identity following last year’s major defeats, which saw Republicans reclaim the White House and secure control of both chambers of Congress. The party is now grappling with its lowest favorability ratings in decades, while growing calls from prominent activists for new leadership have fueled internal tensions and frustration.
Candid evaluations of the 2024 election and the current political climate are essential for Democrats to regain their footing, party strategists say, per The Hill. “You can’t understand how to win by repeating losing behavior; you have to study winners. And the reality is that Trump has won two of his three elections,” Democratic strategist Fred Hicks said, per the outlet. “I think it’s prudent to understand how Republicans have earned the votes of so many people.”
Rep. Ro Khanna, a prominent House progressive often mentioned as a potential 2028 presidential contender, criticized his own party for lacking a clear economic message, saying it “has not had a compelling economic vision for years.” Speaking at the Summit, Khanna said he has not yet decided whether to run for president, but pointedly suggested he could offer a stronger economic vision for the country.
Himes offered rare praise for President Trump’s foreign policy decisions, while emphasizing that he continues to disagree with him on a range of other issues. “I could spend the next hour talking about things I don’t like about this presidency or about MAGA, but I will give him some real credit on foreign policy,” Himes said.
Himes highlighted Trump’s “practical approach” in the Middle East, specifically pointing to the executive order signed in January that lifted sanctions on Syria following the unexpected collapse of Bashar Assad’s regime.
“I mean, the opening to Syria, I did not anticipate that. That’s pretty amazing…. I give the president and his administration credit for this — to build up and support the Syrian regime,” Himes said.
