Former Obama adviser Rahm Emanuel said that he doesn’t view socialists as part of the Democratic Party, a rare pushback against attempts to establish a big-tent party that includes its left flank.
In an appearance on Fox News Sunday, Emanuel broke with the Democratic consensus over how to handle its surging Democratic Socialists of America contingent, arguing it should be locked out rather than accepted.
“I don’t consider democratic socialists part of the Democratic Party,” he said.
“They believe in defunding the police, letting prisoners out of prisons, opening the borders, eliminating the Pentagon. If you’re so confident that people want that, I’ll see you in November,” Emanuel, who is also viewed as a top 2028 Democratic contender, added. “Put it on the ballot. Let’s go. Run as a separate party.”
His position puts him at odds with nearly every major Democratic leader and influential lawmakers, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Sens. Chris Murphy (D-CT) and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD).
Schumer is the most influential elected Democratic official to push for the prospect, opening his arms to the DSA after losing several primary proxy battles.
“Look, we are a big tent party, and being a big tent party is a strength, not a weakness,” he said recently.
Van Hollen gave a similar response earlier this month.
“We have a big tent party. This is a democracy. You’re going to have lots of perspectives. It’s up to the voters to decide, and they did,” he said.
Murphy went the furthest, arguing that their tent should be so big as to include everyone possible, but singled out the DSA as belonging in the party.
DEMOCRATS FROM OPPOSITE SIDES OF PARTY ALL RALLY BEHIND ‘BIG TENT’
“I do think that there is somewhat of a trend that candidates who are confronting concentrated corporate power in a meaningful way are winning. And I think that that is something that the Democratic Party should pay attention to,” he said. “We should give them a place in our party.”
Emanuel has carved out his own spot in the party after catching wind of the widespread cultural backlash against “Woke 1.” He’s argued that the increasing detachment from the Democratic establishment could spell the party’s doom and has been increasingly aggressive in pushing this message.