In 2015, Democrats laughed at Trump —Republicans should not repeat that mistake with AOC today
by Douglas MacKinnon, opinion contributor - 09/27/25 12:00 PM ET
It was June 2015. Online, there were countless videos of smug Democrats, self-proclaimed “experts” and know-nothing pundits literally laughing out loud at the prospect of New York City businessman Donald Trump declaring his run for president.
That fools’ parade found it hilarious that Trump truly thought he could beat “seasoned” Republican politicians in the primary. They guaranteed that the “delusional” Trump could never beat Hillary Clinton in the general election. In the process, they only proved themselves irrelevant and totally out of touch with the issues plaguing the nation.
Back in 2016, Trump was propelled by a very powerful message — one that resonated with tens of millions of Americans across the socioeconomic spectrum. He was not a politician (and most especially not a career politician) and he was bringing decades of real-world business experience — and massive success — to the table.
Trump got the last laugh because he knew that the reporters, political “experts” and pundits who laughed in his face were either part of the “entrenched elite” class that had ruled over Washington for decades or were deeply beholden to it. More than that, his instinct told him the American people believed that as well.
Now, as we come into the closing months of 2025, it’s time to channel the great Yogi Berra by saying: “It’s déjà vu all over again.” Suddenly, we have a great many Republicans and “experts” laughing at the prospect of far-left New York City Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) running for president, getting the Democratic nomination or actually beating the eventual Republican nominee in 2028.
Will AOC really run in 2028, or is she cleverly gaming the media and the system for millions of dollars of free publicity so she can stage a run for Senate instead? Quite possibly, but that is not the pertinent question to be asked. The more critical question is whether the Democrats can roll out a left-wing or far-left “populist” with a message that could resonate with enough Americans to win a national election.
The answer: You bet they can.
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https://thehill.com/opinion/campaign/5523666-trump-deja-vu-aoc-presidency/