Trump’s first week was great if you’re a mega-billionaire or Oath Keeper. It wasn’t so great for the rest of us. I…

Trump’s first week was great if you’re a mega-billionaire or Oath Keeper.  It wasn’t so great for the rest of us.  I know a lot of folks are feeling down right now, & trust me, I get it.  But the battle lines were drawn. And here’s why I'm confident we can win this fight.  🧵

First, some important context.  Democrats got our butts kicked in November. No two ways about it.  We stopped meeting people where they were. We became the party of the elites, and folks felt that.   I know that doesn’t sound like good news.

But I'm optimistic because this week, we set the terms of the fight ahead. A core group of Democratic leaders rose up IMMEDIATELY to make it clear we fight FOR the people and AGAINST the same corrupt elites who've been in power far too long.

And showed that, in his first week, Trump did ABSOLUTELY F*CKING NOTHING to lower costs (the #1 priority of the American people), while giving a whole lot of love to his billionaire cronies.

Let’s start with the inauguration. Before Trump even took his oath of office, he provided what I think will be the lasting image of his Presidency.  Living paycheck to paycheck and drove 3,000 miles to DC? Too bad!  Donated $1M and flew private? Welcome to our warm VIP area!

We rightly hammered him for it. But it wasn’t just ragging on Trump.  We DIRECTLY and FORCEFULLY tied it back to a core message of corruption. My personal favorite came from @ChrisMurphyCT:

Chris Murphy 🟧@ChrisMurphyCT · Jan 17, 2025

It’s a metaphor for the next 4 years. The weather made it worse but it was going to be an embarrassing crowd no matter what. So he cancelled it because of his ego. But the billionaires will get the indoor seats - and the regular people who paid thousands to come get screwed.

Then Trump pardoned insurrectionists convicted of violently assaulting police officers.  Beating them with flag poles. Tasering an officer until he had a heart attack. 5 law enforcement officers killed. 140 wounded.

We made it clear we stand with law enforcement AND people like @RepGregLandsman rightfully brought the conversation back to the cost of living:

Congressman Greg Landsman@RepGregLandsman · Jan 21, 2025

Gas is $3, eggs are $4. Yet, this is Trump’s priority. Again, this 👇🏼…not what Americans voted for. A huge mistake, and a betrayal of law enforcement and our Constitution.

Much to the displeasure of hacks like @NancyMace, so did new members like @SarahEMcBride:

Sarah McBride@SarahEMcBride · Jan 22, 2025

Donald Trump pardoned unrepentant insurrectionists who violently beat a police officer in the face, tasered an officer to the point where he had a heart attack, and beat an officer with a flagpole and stomped on his face. He did all of that while revoking policies that lowered the cost of prescription drugs this week. So much for lowering the cost of goods. Trump is not interested in you. He’s interested in his own grievances and his billionaire friends.

Next came the Executive Orders.  Trump tried to flood the zone.  But the last election was won & lost on affordability.  So a lot of folks zeroed in on the impacts of Trump selling YOU out so he could make the people sitting in the front row at his inauguration even richer.

My friends @RepAngieCraig and @RepGolden called BS when Trump raised healthcare costs for YOU so his Big Pharma donors can keep making record-breaking profits.

Angie Craig@RepAngieCraig · Jan 23, 2025

This action by the new administration will gut the $2 a month cap on generic prescriptions drugs. Raising prices on America’s seniors is not going to make life better for anyone. nbcnews.com/health/health-…

Then Trump went after veterans' healthcare. I'll fight to the ends of the earth before I let that draft-dodger come after my fellow veterans.  We're lucky to have allies like @RepDonBeyer in that fight.

Rep. Don Beyer@RepDonBeyer · Jan 22, 2025

What Trump's hiring freeze and civil service attacks mean: Today I was contacted by a constituent who is a mental health professional hired to treat veterans at the V.A. Trump’s executive actions are preventing them from starting work and providing care to American veterans.

Leader @RepJeffries powerfully called out Trump’s proposed massive tax cuts for billionaires and big corporations, paid for with cuts to Medicare and Social Security:

Edward-Isaac Dovere@IsaacDovere · Jan 23, 2025

House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries calls the Republican budget plan, with cuts to Medicaid and tax cuts for the wealthier, a "contract against America"

And @SenSchumer summed it all up:

Chuck Schumer@SenSchumer · Jan 23, 2025

President Trump’s Executive Orders make it obvious that no Golden Age is coming to America—unless you’re one of the wealthiest few, you’re well-connected, or you own a Big Oil or Big Pharma company.

To give an idea of the coalition we’re building, here’s Naval Academy grad @RepDeluzio wrapping up the week…

Congressman Chris Deluzio@RepDeluzio · Jan 23, 2025

Folks in Western PA are mad about high costs. But the only plan I've heard so far from my Republican colleagues is more tax handouts to corporations & the ultra-rich. That 'trickle down economics' doesn't work. What does? Taking on the corporate stranglehold over our economy.

And Congressional Progressive Caucus Chair @RepCasar:

Congressman Greg Casar@RepCasar · Jan 22, 2025

On his first day, Trump showed us exactly who he’s serving: a handful of the richest people on Earth. The Progressive Caucus will fight against Trump selling our government to his billionaire buddies. But fighting Trump is not enough. We need to fight FOR working people.

That’s a wide cross-section of our party, from all parts of our country, from all backgrounds, from all ideologies, LISTENING to the American people and responding clearly: Left, right and center be damned, we’re here to lower costs for YOU and your family.

The stakes are incredibly high. We have to be clear-eyed about the threats facing our nation, and fight back with everything we've got. Strategically.  And yes, the Democratic party sure as hell isn't perfect. I know we've got an awful lot of work to do to regain trust.

But I’ve learned in life that often the best way out is through.  This intense, unyielding and unwavering dedication to fighting FOR the people and AGAINST anyone who would do them harm, that's the Democratic Party I want to be a part of.  That's our path out of the wilderness.