Politico Pushes ‘Shadow Cabinet’ to Undermine Trump Presidency [WATCH]

The progressive news outlet Politico is calling on Democrats to assemble a “shadow cabinet” in an effort to counter President Donald Trump’s second-term agenda.

However, the idea is not new.

Democratic National Committee Chair Jaime Harrison publicly stated in April that such an effort is already underway.

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In a recent article, Politico outlined a strategy it says could help Democrats “thwart President Donald Trump’s agenda, rebrand their party and take back power.”

A shadow cabinet ran the country for four years, but OK… https://t.co/z89nRzHc1m

— Joe Concha (@JoeConchaTV) May 27, 2025

The plan, reportedly pitched by Sen. Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), involves building a shadow cabinet composed of prominent Democrats to mirror the actual administration’s top officials and provide a continuous media counter-narrative.

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Slotkin suggested that the shadow cabinet be made up of ranking members of congressional committees.

“It’s a common feature of opposition politics abroad,” Slotkin said in her interview with Politico.

The idea, she added, would be to “flood the media zone” with coordinated Democratic messaging.

The article also acknowledged challenges with such a model.

Ranking committee members, while experienced, may not appeal to a broader audience or present a modernized image for the party.

“They are not the fresh faces who can give the Democratic Party a sleek new look,” the article states.

Look at who’s in the pictures and try not to get a hernia laughing out loud.

Seriously, be sure to sit down first. pic.twitter.com/mFmwZcxUlg

— Bonchie (@bonchieredstate) May 27, 2025

The piece goes on to suggest alternative figures for a potential shadow cabinet, including names outside of Congress:

• Samantha Power as Shadow Secretary of State
• Letitia James as Shadow Attorney General
• Jon Stewart as Shadow Secretary of Veterans Affairs
• Gisele Fetterman as Shadow Secretary of Homeland Security
• Bill Nye as Shadow EPA Administrator

Some of these names have drawn attention due to their high public profiles but also sparked questions about qualifications and the seriousness of the effort.

The suggestion mirrors an initiative already acknowledged by DNC leadership.

Democrats have proposed a “Shadow Cabinet” to run the country during the Trump Admin…

And for some reason… I don’t know why, Nikki Glazer is in charge of the Small Business Admin pic.twitter.com/vzbYWIHS8G

— kevin smith (@kevin_smith45) May 28, 2025

In April 2025, DNC Chair Jaime Harrison revealed that the party was in fact organizing a team to operate in parallel to the Trump administration, offering counterpoints and resistance messaging to media outlets and voters.

Harrison did not disclose specific names at the time, but described it as a strategy to provide “accountability” and present “an alternative vision.”

The growing focus on building a formal or informal shadow cabinet raises questions about political norms and the function of opposition parties in the United States.

The U.S. system does not traditionally include shadow governments, which are more common in parliamentary systems where an opposition party designates spokespeople for each major cabinet role.

The Politico article has reignited discussion over how Democrats plan to regain influence following their losses in the 2024 election, where Republicans expanded control of both chambers of Congress and President Trump won reelection.

Some critics argue that forming an unelected counter-government structure could further erode public trust in institutions and deepen partisan divides.

The proposed figures for the shadow cabinet reflect a blend of political, activist, and media personalities.

Letitia James, the current New York Attorney General, has led several high-profile legal battles against Trump in recent years.

Samantha Power served as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations under the Obama administration.

Jon Stewart, the former Daily Show host, has advocated for veterans and 9/11 first responders.

Gisele Fetterman is the wife of Senator John Fetterman, and Bill Nye is a science educator and television personality.

As of Wednesday, there has been no official announcement from Democratic leadership regarding the finalized structure of the shadow cabinet or its members.

However, the renewed focus signals that Democrats are working to reorganize and increase visibility as the 2026 midterm election cycle approaches.

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