Democratic Representative Jared Golden of Maine has advised his party to avoid overreacting to every action taken by former President Donald Trump. In a recent interview, Golden expressed frustration with the Democratic response to Trump, arguing that declaring every issue a top-level crisis diminishes the impact of genuine concerns. He stressed the importance of focusing on Trump's actions rather than his words, especially regarding potential overreach of constitutional authority.
Golden has consistently criticized both his own party and Democratic leadership, including President Biden, on various issues such as the border crisis and the party's messaging on authoritarianism. He even predicted a Trump victory in the previous election, stating he would be comfortable with such an outcome. Golden believes that prematurely labeling actions as "dictatorial or illegal" without proper assessment can undermine credibility.
Using the recent situation in Gaza as an example, Golden explained his measured approach. He stated his focus is on the president's actions, particularly regarding the return of American hostages, rather than immediate reactions to every presidential statement. He emphasized the need to assess whether Trump's actions genuinely undermine American interests.
Furthermore, Golden expressed optimism about potential collaboration with the Trump administration on specific policy areas like border security and energy. He advocates for an "all-of-the-above" energy strategy to achieve American energy independence. While acknowledging potential challenges in aligning on tax policy due to his concerns about its impact on economic growth, the middle class, and the national debt, he expressed openness to being "pleasantly surprised."
Golden's record includes voting against key Biden administration initiatives like the American Rescue Plan and the Build Back Better bill.
