Video News Clips: In Their Own Words

Stephen A Smith Explains To ‘The View’ Co-Host Why Democrats Failed In 2024

[Screenshot/The View]

Sirius XM host Stephen A. Smith told “The View” co-hosts on Thursday that the Democrats lost in 2024 because they didn’t have a winnable message.

Co-host Whoopi Goldberg argued that the Democrats fought against President Donald Trump in the most successful way they could, but that it simply did not work out for them in the previous election. Smith disagreed, stating that Democrats focused too heavily on attacking Trump rather than focusing on issues that matter to voters.

“But what I’m saying is that during the campaign, were you doing what it takes to win? You had too many people going after him for stuff that wasn’t going to stick. It wasn’t going to influence his voters,” Smith said. “So what I would say to you, Whoopi, and what I would say to anybody that doesn’t want J.D. Vance or Marco Rubio or somebody like that to succeed him, focus on what’s going to win.” 

WATCH: 

Smith stated that affordability and safety are the two issues on top of Americans’ minds and that Democrats need to hammer those issues to win. He also dismissed co-host Joy Behar’s argument that Democrats try harder than Republicans on those issues.

The economy and immigration helped Trump win the popular vote and every swing state against former Vice President Kamala Harris. He made major inroads with Hispanic men, blacks, Asians, young men and blue collar workers who expressed concerns about inflation and illegal immigration.

Americans are currently unhappy with the economy, with 46% saying the cost of living is worse than they have ever remembered, according to Politico. Democrats won sweeping victories in the Virginia and New Jersey governor races as affordability took the center stage for voters.