Cory Booker, Trump’s Second Term, and the Future of Democratic Leadership: Mehdi Hasan Sounds a Note of Caution

As the Democratic Party regroups from a sobering 2024 election loss and stares down the reality of a resurgent Donald Trump in the White House, questions about its future leadership are already swirling. One name at the center of this early speculation is Senator Cory Booker of New Jersey — especially after his historic 25-hour Senate floor speech this past week, the longest in modern U.S. history.

To some, Booker’s marathon speech signals the emergence of a new standard-bearer — someone charismatic, resilient, and willing to take bold stands against Trump’s sweeping second-term agenda. But not everyone is ready to fast-forward to 2028 just yet.

During a recent appearance on NewsNation’s “On Balance,” veteran political commentator and former MSNBC host Mehdi Hasan poured cold water on the idea of prematurely elevating Booker — or anyone — as the face of the Democratic Party's future.

While praising Booker’s rhetorical skill and personal stamina, Hasan stressed that Democrats must resist the temptation to focus on the distant future while the present political moment demands urgent attention. “Trump’s first … term is not even 100 days old,” Hasan told host Leland Vittert. “Let’s calm down.”

Booker’s 25-hour floor speech, which reportedly included lengthy sections delivered without notes and without a single bathroom break, has captured headlines and energized a portion of the Democratic base. The senator’s fiery defense of voting rights, judicial independence, and climate action played well on social media, where clips of his performance were widely shared.

But while the spectacle was inspiring to some, it also highlighted the internal rift within the Democratic Party. Progressives applauded Booker’s boldness; centrists questioned the practicality. Meanwhile, political analysts like Hasan urged perspective. “The idea that we know what’s going to happen in July of this year or November of this year, let alone November of 2028, is insane,” Hasan said. “Things are changing very fast.”

Hasan’s message was clear: Democrats cannot afford to be distracted by 2028 ambitions when the Trump administration is already reshaping the American political landscape at a breakneck pace.

In one of the more memorable lines from the interview, Hasan noted the warping effect that Trump’s political style has had on time and momentum. “Trump years are like dog years,” he said. “You just can’t get a sense of time.”

The analogy resonated with many observers. In just the first few months of Trump’s second term, the administration has already pushed through controversial judicial reforms, expanded executive powers, initiated a foreign policy reset, and continued efforts to dismantle regulatory oversight.

For Democrats still reeling from their defeat, the speed and scale of Trump’s actions have left little time to regroup. This, Hasan argued, is precisely why forward-looking debates about 2028 are, at best, premature — and at worst, dangerously distracting.

To be clear, Hasan did not discount Booker’s talent or commitment. “As someone who studies rhetoric, I was very impressed,” he said, referring to Booker’s floor speech. “Speaking that long, with conviction, and often without notes — that’s not easy.”

But Hasan was also quick to point out that stamina is not strategy. Nor is it a substitute for effective opposition in the present. “Fundamentally, it doesn’t really matter,” he said of 2028 speculation. “The runners and riders are irrelevant to the here and now.”

Booker’s defenders argue that his speech was a powerful act of resistance — one that could inspire voters and reframe the Democratic narrative after months of silence and soul-searching. His critics argue that high-profile performances do little to slow Trump’s agenda or unify a fractured party.

Hasan offered a middle ground: respect the passion, but return focus to the immediate threat.

Hasan’s comments reflect a growing frustration on the left over the Democratic Party’s disjointed response to Trump’s second term. While some figures have stepped forward with bold policy ideas or fiery speeches, the party has yet to coalesce around a consistent message or strategy. 

“That needs to be dealt with in the here and now,” Hasan said, referencing Trump’s actions. “And that requires a Democratic Party that is willing to stand and fight.”

Indeed, the list of grievances among progressives is long. In just the first few months of Trump’s second term, the administration has:

• Pushed through legislation weakening judicial oversight.

• Continued to question the legitimacy of election processes.

• Expanded executive authority in ways critics call authoritarian.

• Undermined longstanding alliances and treaties abroad.

• Implemented economic policies that some say benefit the wealthy at the expense of working-class Americans.

For many Democrats, these actions represent a deepening crisis — not just of governance, but of democracy itself. And yet, internal divisions have stifled the party’s ability to present a unified counter-narrative.

The urgency of the moment has forced Democrats to wrestle with fundamental questions: Who are we? What do we stand for? And who can lead us through this storm?

For Hasan, these are the questions that must guide the party’s present — not speculation about who might top the ticket in 2028. “It is the $64,000 question,” he said. “And I think you’re seeing the left put forward people. You’re seeing centrists put forward people. Cory Booker is clearly going to be a candidate.”

But a candidate for what? If the next three years under Trump continue at this pace, the political landscape of 2028 may look nothing like today’s. New issues, new crises, and new leaders may emerge. Or the party may further fragment, unable to meet the moment.

Hasan’s warning is not about silencing ambition — it’s about timing and clarity. In an era when the pace of political change is accelerating and democratic norms are under siege, focus must remain on the fight in front of us.

This doesn't mean leaders like Booker should step back. Quite the opposite. But their energy, ideas, and voice must be directed at the immediate — at holding the line against policies and rhetoric that many view as existential threats.

The Democratic Party, Hasan implies, does not have the luxury of playing a long game. Not when the short game is already rewriting the rules.

And so, while Cory Booker may very well be a contender in 2028, the more urgent question remains: who will rise in 2025, 2026, and 2027 to resist, rebuild, and reimagine?

Because by 2028, it might be too late.