Alan Zendell, April 3, 2025

The phrase “loyal opposition” is normally used in describing parliamentary systems of government. It refers to parties not currently in power who oppose the policies of the ruling party or coalition, with two important understandings. The loyal opposition must seek common ground by negotiation, and is loyal to the country’s leader and its Constitution. In the context of present-day America, the loyalty referred to is not the blind loyalty that Donald Trump requires in his attempt to expand the power of the presidency. It’s what most of us naively thought was obvious until recently: that country and patriotism always come before politics and personal ambition.

Regardless of how naïve that notion may be, the preservation of democracy requires a loyal opposition. The alternative is what we saw in Europe when Fascists outlawed opposition parties, and today in places like China, Russia, and North Korea. China suppresses opposition by shooting people or locking them away in prison, Russia poisons them, and North Korea makes them disappear. Even Iran tolerates opposition in the form of political factions – not exactly democratic, but at least autocratic leaders don’t go unchallenged.

Is that why our most dangerous adversaries were spared in Trump’s trade war, which began in earnest, yesterday? Trump seems to believe that cozying up to dictators makes his quest to destroy the protections in our Constitution okay, since in his view, those leaders understand how essential strong leadership is.

Strong leadership is critical on both sides, but there’s a lot of space between autocrats and strong leaders who take their oath to support our Constitution literally. At a time when our democratic norms and traditions are under attack by Trump’s MAGA movement, it’s difficult to see how our system can survive without an equally strong leader organizing and speaking up for democracy. The most serious problem America faces today may be the lack of that leadership.

Without it, our only hope of surviving Trump-2 is the Supreme Court. I’m confident that in the end a majority of Justices will uphold the Constitution, but as expensive as eggs are, these days, we shouldn’t put them all in one basket. It’s appalling that among Democrats, centrist Republicans, and Independents, all of whom are horrified by Trump’s actions, not a single person has emerged to seize the mantle of  leadership of the opposition, despite the fact that the opposition are the majority of Americans.

In 1992, following twelve years of Republican presidencies, Democrats faced a similar leadership void. Out of the blue, a relatively unknown Governor of Arkansas, Bill Clinton, rocketed to prominence and seized that role. Sixteen years later, after ruinous tax cuts and misguided wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, another leadership void was filled by another shooting star, Barack Obama. We’re waiting with baited breath for a new savior to arise, but scan the horizon in every direction, and you won’t find one.

If it were up to me, I’d follow Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar. If Joe Biden was the perfect antidote to Trump in 2020, she could fill that role today. Smart, eloquent, somewhat, but not extremely left of center, and someone who understands our heartland, she’s perfect if she wants the job. But the only two people speaking out loudly against Trump are both extreme Progressives, Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. The loyal opposition needs a leader who can inspire a wide range of people.

Far too many people in Congress who disagree with Trump have chosen a different route. Rather than oppose MAGA and risk being primaried or having their families and careers threatened, they’re quietly scurrying like rats living in the walls, searching for some way to placate Trump so he doesn’t target them or their districts. But if the opposition continues to play the self-interest game, and the Court falters, we’re going to wake up one day soon and not recognize our country.

I can’t leave this subject without mentioning Cory Booker, the New Jersey Senator who delivered a 25-hours speech on the floor of the Senate, to demonstrate that one person has the power to freeze our government. Was Booker just reacting to his frustration or was he seriously offering himself as the leader of the opposition?  Perhaps Booker is trying to resurrect the Obama coalition that won the White House twice. I hope so, but even more important, I’m waiting to see who else emerges to inspire us to act.

Since the election, we’ve heard very little from the Clintons, Obamas, or Harrises. Their silence is deafening at a time when leadership is critically needed in America. If no one else emerges, I’d support Booker, but I fear he’s too much of a risk, given the things MAGA stands for.

This isn’t the first time we’ve faced a leadership crisis. When the country was reeling from Watergate and Vietnam, the rock group Chicago sang:

America needs you, Harry Truman
Harry, could you please come home?
Things are looking bad
I know you would be mad
To see what kind of men
Prevail upon the land you love

America’s wondering, “How we got here?”
Harry, all we get is lies
We’re getting safer cars
Rocket ships to Mars
From men who’d sell us out
To get themselves a piece of power

Was that a prescient reference to Trump and Elon Musk?