In a spectacular display of delusion and denial, disgraced former Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao erupted in an embarrassing public meltdown, blaming “radical right-wing forces” for her political downfall—rather than the corruption scandal that led to her indictment and overwhelming recall from office.
Thao, who was ousted in November 2024 after nearly 60% of voters in deep-blue Oakland rejected her disastrous leadership, is now facing federal bribery and conspiracy charges that could land her in prison for nearly a century. But instead of taking responsibility for her corruption, incompetence, and the city’s spiraling crime and homelessness crisis, Thao chose to play the victim, railing against imaginary conservative boogeymen.
On March 24, the Bay Area State of Mind social media account posted a video of Thao’s wild, emotional defense. She began by defiantly rejecting reality:
> “I’m not going down like that. We’re not going down like that. The people who voted for me deserve to have their voices heard and communities prioritized. I’m seeking the truth right now, just as much as you all are, but I will not be bullied, and I will not be disparaged, and I will not be threatened out of this office.”
Apparently, Thao believes the “truth” will somehow absolve her of the eight-count federal indictment for running a pay-to-play bribery scheme. But as she descended into a near-hysterical breakdown, she abandoned all logic and accused right-wing operatives—who, last time we checked, don’t exactly run Oakland—of masterminding her removal.
> “There are a lot of radical right-wing forces who know they will never win an election in Oakland, fair and square. They know their extreme views are at odds with our open values, but they have built the rules to protect and preserve their power and maintain dominance over the rest of us; we are a threat to that order.”
Let’s break that down: Thao, the mayor of a city run entirely by leftists, in a state completely controlled by Democrats, wants the public to believe that Republicans somehow orchestrated her downfall. Never mind that her own constituents—who likely have never voted for a Republican in their lives—voted to kick her out.
In a desperate attempt to rally support, Thao wrapped up her tirade with some incoherent progressive sloganeering:
> “I know that the people who support me know that. You see, this was never going to be an easy fight, but I tell you, it’s most definitely a fight worth winning. For I will continue to lift up those most vulnerable, to lead by example, to prove that this system might not be designed for us, but we can, and we will build a brighter future for our children. This is my mission as your mayor, and I thank you.”
Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao cries, blames “radical right wing forces” for her political downfall.
She’s now facing 95 years in federal prison for corruption, fraud, and money laundering. pic.twitter.com/cMKK9H1Unc
— BAY AREA STATE OF MIND (@YayAreaNews) March 25, 2025
To say the internet wasn’t buying Thao’s excuses would be an understatement. The comment section under the viral video was a brutal roast of her absurd claims.
One user perfectly summed up the irony:
> “Tell me this—just how bad a criminal does a Democrat have to be to get indicted for abuse of office in California? I mean, this is a state that has spent $24 billion on homelessness with zero results, and the California State Auditor said there was little tracking to show where the money went.”
Another pointed out the absurdity of blaming conservatives for the corruption of a one-party state:
> “Wait, radical right-wing forces diabolically built the rules that have allowed Oakland to remain a one-party city and California to remain a one-party state? I’m not quite following her logic.”
And then there was this gem:
> “Radical right-wing forces… in an area that is so blue they’d vote for literal communists before a RINO Republican lol.”
Sheng Thao’s downfall is not the result of some imaginary conservative plot—it’s the inevitable consequence of Democrat-run cities imploding under the weight of their own corruption and incompetence. Oakland has been plagued by skyrocketing crime, homelessness, and complete lawlessness, all under Democratic rule.
Thao wasn’t removed by the GOP. She was removed by her own leftist voters, who finally got tired of watching their city crumble. But rather than accept reality, she’s chosen to go out kicking and screaming, blaming everyone but herself.
And that’s exactly why Democrats continue to lose credibility with the American people.
