David Axelrod, one of the Democratic Party’s most seasoned strategists, offered a rare moment of candor following President Donald Trump’s address to Congress, acknowledging that his party’s reaction to the speech was far from its finest hour.
In a CNN panel discussion, Axelrod admitted that Democrats in the chamber failed to meet the moment, allowing theatrics and hostility to overshadow any substantive response.
“I will say, I thought Democrats, I thought that was— I think there were times when they should have risen,” Axelrod said, directly addressing his party’s refusal to acknowledge positive aspects of Trump’s speech. “I think what Al Green did was despicable.”
Axelrod was referring to the outburst by Rep. Al Green (D-TX), who was forcibly removed from the chamber after repeatedly shouting at Trump from the floor. Green’s refusal to return to his seat prompted House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) to order the sergeant-at-arms to intervene.
It was a moment of chaos that played out on national television, setting the tone for a Democratic response that many observers, including Axelrod, saw as both unorganized and self-defeating.
David Axelrod: "I think there were times when [Democrats] should've risen. I think what Al Green did was despicable." pic.twitter.com/TFKj81Kjfx
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) March 5, 2025
CNN’s Scott Jennings took the critique even further, arguing that Green’s actions, combined with other Democratic antics—such as the use of protest paddles that were quickly ridiculed on social media—completely drowned out any serious opposition to Trump’s address.
“I’m sure [Sen. Elissa Slotkin] is a very nice person,” Jennings remarked, referring to the Michigan Democrat who delivered the official rebuttal speech. “None of this will be remembered because this was a horrific night for the opposition party regardless of how well she just spoke.”
Jennings pointed to a particularly damning moment for the Democratic caucus: when members refused to stand and applaud Marc Fogel, an American teacher recently freed from a Russian prison, as well as his 95-year-old mother. The optics of that decision—choosing political opposition over acknowledging a human victory—were difficult to justify, and Jennings made it clear that this kind of reaction only reinforced negative perceptions of the party.
Axelrod, for his part, seemed to understand that the night had not gone well for Democrats. His praise for Slotkin’s speech suggested that he believed a more measured, policy-focused response was the right path forward. But as Jennings pointed out, no one would remember Slotkin’s remarks in light of the dramatic scenes that unfolded earlier in the night.