Following the certification of the presidential election results, Democratic lawmakers are pledging to keep fighting President-elect Donald Trump and promoting Democratic objectives.
“We will never give up on building a more perfect union, because that’s why we ran for Congress in the first place. After yesterday’s commemoration, we’re ready to turn the page and to get to work on behalf of the American people,” House Democratic Caucus Chairman Pete Aguilar said in a Tuesday news conference.
Aguilar mentioned protecting American institutions, combating inequality, and promoting transparency as key Democratic objectives – objectives he claimed Trump does not share.
“What the American public needs to know is that Donald Trump is working with House Republicans on efforts that will hurt them, on efforts that will have the potential,” Aguilar told reporters, referencing Democrats’ claims that Republicans will cut Social Security and other government programs and possibly eliminate the Department of Education. Trump has said he would not cut Social Security benefits but he discussed possibily eliminating the DOE.
“They’re going to say a lot of things, but at the end of the day that is their fundamental focus, is how they provide tax cuts to millionaires and billionaires and how they cut programs that hurt people,” Aguilar said.
He also condemned what he called House Republicans’ “anti-immigrant agenda,” referring to the passage of the closed-rule Laken Riley Act that would mandate the detainment of illegal immigrants who are accused, but not necessarily convicted, of commiting crimes in the U.S.
“We believe in the rule of law, but we believe in the process and the fundamental principle of our justice system. And so we’re going to continue to have these discussions [on immigration policy],” Aguilar said.
Under President Joe Biden’s immigration policies, more than 12 million foreign nationals illegally entered the U.S., a record.
In light of Meta’s announcement that it will scrap fact-checking programs and censorship on Facebook, Aguilar said Democrats will take on the responsibility of continuing to provide factual information to the public.
“[W]hether it’s Donald Trump or Barry Loudermilk or Mike Johnson, we’re not going to allow anyone to rewrite history or have their own set of facts. Our job is to give the American public our perspective and the truth as we lived it and as we see it,” he pledged.
Democratic leaders in Congress faced stiff criticism for what Republicans say was their coverup of Biden’s mental capacity and ability to run for another term in office. Biden eventually dropped out of the race in August 2024 after facing pressure from Democrats after his debate performance against Trump.
Democrats in the Senate joined their House colleagues in their promise of bipartisanship and opposition to Trump.
“Democrats are ready to work with anyone, regardless of party, to make life better for Americans,” U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer posted on X following the news conference. “But if Trump and the GOP use their new majorities to go after Social Security or Medicare or Medicaid or people’s paychecks, we will fight back.”
