As the Democratic Party faces internal chaos after President Trump’s historic 2024 victory, speculation has intensified about who will rise to lead the party out of its post-Trump struggle. During a recent appearance on *Fox News* with Bret Baier, Vice President JD Vance humorously suggested that Trump might actually be the true leader of the Democratic Party, before offering his pointed take on the prospects of Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) potentially leading the party in the future.

For context, AOC, a prominent member of the far-left “Squad,” is known for her radical views on issues ranging from immigration and LGBTQ rights to her constant attacks on Trump. Though she has not officially announced her candidacy for higher office, recent polling suggests that she enjoys greater popularity among Democratic voters than long-time party leaders like Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer.

Baier’s interview began with a question about the possibility of an AOC presidency in 2028. Vance, never one to shy away from humor, immediately responded, “President AOC, the stuff of nightmares, Bret, thank you. You’ve ruined my sleep for this evening,” before offering a more serious critique: “I don’t know.”

Vance didn’t stop there. He proceeded to make a bold statement that was sure to send shockwaves through the political establishment: “I think to the extent the Democrats have a leader, Donald J. Trump is the leader of the Democratic Party. Because they’re just against everything that he does.”

In a pointed critique of the Democrats’ knee-jerk opposition to Trump’s policies, Vance argued, “Who could possibly disagree with rebuilding American manufacturing and ensuring these steelworkers have higher wages and better jobs?” In typical left-wing fashion, Vance claimed, the Democrats are consistently against any effort to put America’s working class first.

The vice president didn’t hesitate to continue his assault on the left’s emotional and reactionary politics. “Any time Donald Trump does anything, they have this emotional response, they have to be against it,” Vance noted. “Who could disagree with deporting millions of illegal aliens, many of whom are violent criminals? But they do. They have to oppose it.”

Vance’s critique of the Democratic Party was damning, as he explained how their leadership struggles stem from a refusal to engage with real policy solutions. Instead, Vance argued, they remain locked in a cycle of emotional reactions to Trump’s policies. “Whenever Donald J. Trump does something, they react negatively to it. They don’t have real leadership,” Vance declared, highlighting the lack of vision that continues to plague the Democratic Party.

Concluding his remarks, Vance expressed his confidence in the future, particularly the upcoming 2028 election. “I think it’s why I’m not too concerned about 2028,” he said. “If I wake up in a fantasy world where the Democrats actually have constructive ideas about how to govern this country, that’ll actually be a good thing. But in the world that we actually live in, where they’re just anti-Trump about everything, the politics of 2028 will take care of themselves.”

Vance’s comments have sparked a larger conversation within conservative circles about the direction of the Democratic Party. In the aftermath of Trump’s win in 2024, many believe the Democrats are at a crossroads, with Ocasio-Cortez and other radical figures emerging as potential leaders, but facing fierce resistance from the more establishment factions of the party.

One prominent conservative influencer, commenting on the growing speculation, noted, “Bernie Sanders will be 87 in 2028. This is just a vehicle to push for AOC to be the de facto president. It will face strong resistance from within the Democrat party. Kamala Harris is still the most popular candidate for 2028, according to polling.”

In the social media discussions that followed, many commentators predicted that the Democratic primary in 2028 will be just as contentious as the 2020 race. One user wrote, “Kamala will have the edge, but by 2027, who knows if she’ll have kept the popularity in the party?”

For now, the Democratic Party remains in turmoil, with no clear successor to President Trump emerging. But as Vance aptly pointed out, if the Democrats continue their current course of mindless opposition, they may find themselves in another brutal primary fight come 2028.