James Carville wants Democrats to make President Donald Trump’s final two years in office painful, using their incoming congressional majorities to force politically costly vetoes ahead of 2028.
The veteran Democratic strategist laid out his approach during his Politicon podcast Thursday, arguing that Democrats should send Trump broadly popular legislation and use his opposition against Republicans.
But his stated goal went well beyond winning policy fights.
“What they want is to humiliate Trump,” Carville said. “We want to watch him wither in anguish and misery and pain.”
Democrats won control of both chambers in last week’s midterm elections and will take over Congress in January, setting up a confrontation with a president who has already advertised his willingness to wield the veto pen.
Carville argued that Democrats should put proposals before Trump that would make rejecting them politically uncomfortable.
“We do a popular thing,” he said. “Raise minimum wage, take a vote to defund the war in Iran.”
James Carville makes the priority clear: not Medicare for All or DEI, lower gas prices, or ending the war in Iran, but humiliating Donald Trump. THAT IS THE MAIN GOAL OF THE DEMOCRAT PARTY.
It was never about quality of life. It was never about affordability. It was always about revenge.
The strategy: “If it moves, subpoena it.”
That won’t lower anyone’s grocery bill. But according to Carville, that isn’t the reward his base is looking for.
— Tony Seruga (@TonySeruga) November 9, 2026
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“Have tax increases for income over $500,000 a year, start opening rural hospitals,” Carville continued. “Just take anything, something that has to be 75 percent popular with the public, it could go as low as 70, okay, and make them vote on it and make [him] veto it.”
The percentages described the level of public support Carville wants Democrats to seek when choosing their legislative priorities.
Trump has signaled that he is ready for the coming fight.
Before the election, the president embraced the “Mr. Veto” nickname. On election night, he posted an image of a red baseball cap bearing the word “VETO.”
Carville’s strategy would turn those rejected bills into campaign ammunition as Democrats pursue the White House in 2028.
He also suggested that winning the presidency while maintaining congressional control could allow Democrats to reshape the conservative-majority Supreme Court, hinting at expanding its membership.
“I got news for them,” Carville said. “Nine ain’t fine.”
