Video News Clips: In Their Own Words

Ro Khanna Calls Out His Party For Lacking ‘Basic Respect’ And ‘Civility’

[Screenshot/Fox News]

Democrat California Rep. Ro Khanna said Tuesday that his party needs to practice “basic respect” and “civility” as their popularity continues to erode.

Khanna told “Fox & Friends” host Steve Doocy that his party needs to be respectful of “certain traditions,” be civil with their political opponents and show more willingness to be challenged by conservative media. He specifically criticized his fellow Democrats for refusing to stand up and applaud Devarjaye “DJ” Daniel, a 13-year-old cancer patient who had been made an honorary Secret Service agent by President Donald Trump at his March 4 congressional address.

“We need to have [an economic] vision that’s actually gonna create good paying, high paying jobs in this country that was de-industrialized. One of the biggest things, well, I don’t know why we didn’t stand up for the boy with cancer at the State of the Union. I stood up,” Khanna said. “You know, I think there’s gotta be basic respect for certain traditions and some degree of civility. I just think, argue the facts and by the way, we should come on more shows where we disagree. I think you gotta mix it up and the reality is, there’s Republicans who watch Fox [News], there’s independents, there’s Democrats, I just think we’ve got to say we’re willing to joust. We’re willing to have an argument, we’re able to articulate our vision and be challenged.” (RELATED: ‘Failure Of Leadership’: Ro Khanna Slams His Own Party For Having No Strategy Besides Hoping Republicans Lose)

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Khanna further said his party needs to craft a “commonsense” vision on how to fix the economy, address illegal immigration and mitigate crime. He said that he cannot defend former President Joe Biden’s administration for allowing a record high number of illegal immigrants to flood into the U.S., with encounters exceeding 2 million in the 2022, 2023 and 2024 fiscal years.

The Democrat Party’s favorability rating dropped to a record low of 29% in a CNN/SSRS poll released Sunday.

When respondents were asked to name a Democrat leader they feel “best reflects the core values” of the party, over 30% didn’t name a lawmaker in response, according to the CNN/SSRS poll. Of those who did name a leader, 10% named New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, while 9% chose former Vice President Kamala Harris and 8% said Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders.

Since Trump reentered office, Democrat lawmakers have launched several protests against his administration and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), even going as far to spew violent rhetoric against Trump and Elon Musk. Lawmakers, including California Rep. Maxine Waters, attempted to force their way into the Department of Education on Feb. 7 in response to Trump’s plans to eliminate the agency, though they were denied entry by security.

During Trump’s congressional address, Democrat Texas Rep. Al Green shouted down the president as he spoke and ultimately got escorted out of the House chamber.

Lawmakers have begun infighting since Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer expressed support for the Republican spending bill, caving to the opposition party’s pressure to keep the government open. Schumer postponed his book tour Monday as it was expected to be met with protests from left-wing grassroots organizations over his support for the funding bill.

Khanna criticized Schumer for receiving no concessions before he expressed support for the funding bill, arguing that the Democrats should have made Republicans agree to not cut Social Security or fire veterans. Trump has repeatedly assured Americans that his party will not make any cuts to Social Security, Medicare or Medicaid.