CNN commentator Scott Jennings dropped a bombshell on Sunday, asserting that President Donald Trump is the de facto leader of the Democratic Party.

According to Daily Caller, Jennings made this striking claim on CNN’s “State of the Union,” arguing that Democrats define themselves solely by opposing Trump’s every move. He painted a picture of a party without a coherent vision, tethered to a reactive stance against one man.

“Well, I mean, for the foreseeable future, the person who’s running the Democratic Party now is going to be running it, and that’s Donald Trump,” Jennings declared. If that’s true, it’s a sad state for a party that once prided itself on bold ideas, now reduced to a mere shadow of its opponent.

Democrats Struggle with Identity and Numbers

The Democratic Party’s internal chaos is no secret, with no clear figurehead to rally behind. Voter registration has tanked, dropping by an estimated 2.1 million across 30 states and Washington, D.C., since 2020, while Republicans gained 2.4 million in the same span.

Favorability ratings are equally grim, with a CNN poll from March showing just 29% approval, down 20 points since January 2021. A Quinnipiac poll in July revealed a meager 19% approval for Democratic congressional leadership, signaling a profound disconnect with the public.

While some Democrats talk confidently about flipping the House in midterms, the numbers tell a different story. This isn’t just a rough patch; it’s a full-blown identity crisis for a party that seems lost in its own rhetoric.

Trump’s Shadow Looms Over Policy and Reaction

Jennings’ sharp observation that Democrats are guided by a “if Trump’s for it, we’re against it” mentality seems to hold water with recent events. Take Trump’s announcement on Tuesday that the U.S. military sank a vessel of Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua cartel, killing 11, which drew swift Democratic condemnation.

On MSNBC, Paul Rieckhoff of Independent Veterans of America called the move “alarming” and “dangerous,” accusing Trump of overextending military power. Democratic Rep. Jerry Nadler went further, demanding criminal charges and labeling Trump as “judge, jury, and executioner” in the strike.

Such reactions play right into Jennings’ point: opposition to Trump appears to be the only unifying thread. When a party sides with a drug cartel over national security to score political points, you have to wonder if principle has been swapped for petty defiance.

Who Will Lead the Democrats Forward?

Amid this leadership vacuum, names are floating as potential saviors for the Democrats, though none seem to stick. Some push socialist Zohran Mamdani as a future face, while others like Xochitl Hinojosa point to figures such as Arizona Sen. Ruben Gallego or New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom is gaining traction, leading a hypothetical 2028 primary with 25% support in an Emerson College poll from late August, up 13 points since June. Betting odds on Polymarket also favor Newsom at 35%, far ahead of Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez at 10% and Sen. Jon Ossoff at 6%.

Even Stephen A. Smith weighed in on Friday, suggesting Maryland Gov. Wes Moore and Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro as strong contenders. Yet, with no official campaigns for 2028 launched, the party remains a fragmented puzzle waiting for a unifying piece.

A Party at a Crossroads Needs Vision

The Democrats’ plight isn’t just about numbers or names; it’s about soul. When your loudest message is opposition, not inspiration, you risk becoming a footnote in the political story, ceding the narrative to the very figure you despise.

Jennings’ biting commentary cuts to the core: Trump may well be steering the Democratic ship by default, as they flail without a captain of their own. It’s a harsh reality, but perhaps a necessary wake-up call for a party that needs to rediscover its purpose.

If Democrats want to reclaim relevance, they’ll need more than knee-jerk resistance or trendy socialist side dishes. A true leader, not a borrowed nemesis, must emerge to chart a course that resonates with Americans who’ve clearly tuned out.