Rahm Emanuel on Trump, the left, and what's right for America
As a Democratic Congressman, Chicago mayor, ambassador, and chief of staff in the Obama White House, Rahm Emanuel has been a key and combative moderate; he says his fight, now and in the future, is bigger than him and his party.
On a sunny afternoon in Chicago, former Mayor Rahm Emanuel reflected on the city he led for eight years. Along the Riverwalk he helped develop, a one-mile stretch where people from all corners of the city, country, and world gather, Emanuel emphasized the grit and toughness of Chicago. He is known for his no-nonsense approach, a trait he carries into interviews, where he pushes back against reporters and the left, including Sen. Bernie Sanders, a Democratic Socialist.
Sanders has been a factor in primaries, pushing aside centrists like Emanuel and his allies within the Democratic Party.
In a Wall Street Journal op-ed titled "How to Lose Friends and Alienate Allies," Emanuel cautioned that supporting progressive candidates could cost Democrats the midterms. Instead, he advocated for raising the minimum wage and winning over Democratic districts. Emanuel admitted to being passionate about his work, but dismissed hypothetical calls from Democratic Socialists for help.
When it comes to addressing economic grievances, Emanuel believes Democrats should focus on lowering costs and not defunding the police or advocating for open borders. On the topic of impeachment, Emanuel accused the Trump administration of dirty business deals and corruption, calling it worse than the Cuban embargo. He also addressed the issue of antisemitism, expressing concern about the rise of violence and killing, while urging Americans to work together to restore faith in America.
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