Americans Want Leadership—Not Trump's Partisan Theater

History won’t remember the petty theatrics of Trump's speech or the weak protests in response—but it will judge whether we met this dark moment with discipline, truth, and real leadership.

The President Assaulted Us With Lies

Tonight, we were given a performance when we needed a plan. Trump stoked division when we needed direction. We were given a partisan rally when we needed leadership.

This speech, wrapped in self-congratulation, was a betrayal of the moment. And it failed us in five undeniable ways.

First, it abandoned truth. From lies about the border to false promises of balancing the budget to fabrications about the price of basic goods, Trump made things up left and right. A leader does not twist numbers to fit a narrative—he faces them and fixes them.

Second, it was an assault on free speech. He spoke of restoring liberty, yet he has censored government agencies, crushed dissent, and silenced those who challenge him. A free nation does not need a leader who demands loyalty—it needs one who earns it.

Third, it was a rally of insults. A commander-in-chief should rise above petty slanders, yet Trump stood at the people's podium and diminished his predecessor, the opposition, and half the country. A true leader unites.

Fourth, it offered fear instead of solutions. We heard of enemies, of threats, of crisis—but not of the courage to meet them. A president should not stoke panic but build resolve.

Fifth, it treated the presidency as a stage, not a stewardship. The American people deserve leadership, not spectacle. They need vision, not vendettas. They seek stability, not chaos.

I’m not surprised by any of this. Who would expect anything different from our criminal president?

But how we respond to this matters.

History Will Judge Us by Our Response

The world will not remember every critique of this speech. It will not take much note of our frustration, our anger, or the way the opposition held up protest signs that did little to meet the weight of the moment.

But history will judge our response—not in the fleeting hours after the speech, but in the months and years ahead. It will not ask whether we heckled loudly enough. It will ask whether we rose to the occasion with integrity, with clarity, with resolve.

This is a dark time. It is a serious moment. And it demands serious people.

The work before us is not easy, nor is it glamorous. It is the work of showing stronger leadership when the institutions around us tremble. It is the work of speaking truth in the face of lies, even when it is drowned out by noise. It is the work of proposing real solutions when the president offers nothing but pittance and distraction.

Righteous indignation is not enough. We must be disciplined. We must be determined. We must organize and build, not just react and resist.

This moment is testing us. Will we match spectacle with spectacle? Or will we stand firm, with a vision greater than any one speech, any one leader, any one election?

Let’s dig in. Let’s do the work. And let’s show the world what real leadership looks like.

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What We Must Do

Looking for an action plan? Check out the playbook we published just last month.

Rising to the moment requires more than good intentions. Moderates need to organize, mobilize, and act with urgency. Here’s how we seize the moment:

1. Build Infrastructure

Extremists have spent decades creating networks of think tanks, advocacy groups, and media outlets. Moderates need to match this level of organization with institutions that amplify their voices and support their goals.

2. Mobilize Voters

The silent majority won’t stay silent forever. Moderates must engage these voters, turning frustration into action at the ballot box.

3. Recruit Leaders

Moderates can’t reclaim the middle without bold, principled leaders. It’s time to find, support, and elect candidates who reflect the values of collaboration and pragmatism.

4. Speak Loudly and Clearly

This is no time for timidity. Moderates must articulate a clear vision for the future—one that rejects extremism and embraces problem-solving.