Trump is at the apex of his power right now. It’s making Democrats sweat.
And now an Obama confidant exposed what Democrats fear most about Donald Trump.
Van Jones, former adviser to Obama and now a CNN senior political commentator, drew a striking comparison between the energy at this week’s Republican National Convention (RNC) and the enthusiasm he witnessed when Obama was first nominated in 2008.
Jones described the “spirit” and enthusiasm at the RNC as palpable. “The last time I was at a convention that felt like this was Obama 2008. There’s something happening,” he observed.
After CNN contributor Scott Jennings shared his excitement about speeches from Hulk Hogan, UFC head Dana White, and former President Trump, Jones added, “This spirit that this guy [Jennings] has, you guys think it’s because he’s drunk, he’s not, this whole thing is like this.”
One panelist quipped that Jones had “written a headline” with his statement.
Earlier in the evening, Jones reflected on Trump’s tumultuous journey to the Republican nomination. “Dreams become nightmares and nightmares become dreams. You’re watching a nightmare become a dream for Donald Trump,” Jones said.
“He has had a nightmarish summer with, you know, convictions and indictments and all kinds of stuff, almost got shot. It’s becoming a dream for him.”
Jones contrasted this with President Joe Biden’s situation, asserting that Biden’s dream has turned into a nightmare.
“Biden’s the opposite. The dream that he had for himself as a young man to stand up and to rescue this country and to move it in a positive direction he actually delivered, he actually delivered on that. He did beat all those odds. He has done extraordinary things. He is an extraordinary man,” Jones remarked.
“But by holding on too long it’s becoming a nightmare. And the donors who have written huge checks for him, I mean the biggest checks are the ones who are stepping back.”
He also noted the shift among Biden’s allies.
“Biden’s peers, like former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, are now turning on him, and now tonight he’s sick and he’s watching all this happen.
It may take him a moment, but I believe he will get where he needs to go. This is a terrible, terrible moment for Joe Biden.”
Jones has been critical of Democrats and has credited Republicans for their strong moves, especially after Biden announced he had COVID-19 shortly after Trump narrowly avoided an assassination attempt.
“If you pull back and look at this thing: strength versus weakness. A bullet couldn’t stop Trump. A virus just stopped Biden,” Jones commented following the COVID news.
He also called TV personality Amber Rose’s RNC speech in support of Trump the “most dangerous speech” for the Democratic Party.
“That is a young woman of color. She’s describing the experience a lot of people have, feeling that maybe if you’re around too many liberals you might get criticized too much, or you might not be able to speak your mind. And she spoke to it really well,” Jones remarked.
In early July, Jones openly acknowledged the internal turmoil within the Democratic Party.
“Everybody comes on the air and says all this great stuff, but behind the scenes, it’s full-scale panic,” he admitted.
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