It’s not every day you see Van Jones—one of CNN’s most reliably left-wing commentators—turn his fire on a Democratic heavyweight like Chuck Schumer. But that’s exactly what happened when Jones unloaded on the Senate Majority Leader, calling him “foolish” and comparing him to Pinocchio over his laughable defense of Joe Biden’s mental fitness. And let’s be clear—Van Jones isn’t just throwing out casual criticism. He’s sounding the alarm about the dishonesty and denial that defined the Democrats’ handling of Biden’s public decline.
During his appearance on Meet the Press, Schumer delivered a performance that was equal parts desperate and delusional. Kristen Welker pressed him on whether Americans were misled about Biden’s mental state in the months leading up to his decision to drop out of the race. Schumer, with the kind of sincerity only a seasoned political operator can muster, insisted, “We didn’t. Look at President Biden. He’s had an amazing record. He’s a great guy.”
Come on, Chuck. The jig is up.
Van Jones wasn’t buying it, and neither was anyone else paying attention. Jones, speaking with Abby Phillip on CNN, flatly said what everyone is thinking: “Obviously, Biden was in bad shape.” Jones pointed out that even those who had only occasional contact with Biden could see something was wrong, while those closest to him “must have known better.”
And that’s the real scandal here. The Democratic Party leadership knew. They knew Biden was slipping. They knew he wasn’t up for another campaign—let alone another four years in the White House. But they chose to gaslight the American people, dismissing legitimate concerns as “right-wing propaganda.”
Jones went further, telling Schumer to “quit playing around” if he wants to maintain any credibility. And then came the zinger: “Schumer’s nose is going to start growing if he keeps doing stuff like that.” When even Van Jones—Van Jones!—is openly mocking the Democratic leadership’s excuses, you know the party is in deep trouble.
Schumer’s attempt to deflect with legislative achievements and comparisons to Lyndon B. Johnson’s Great Society felt like a cheap magic trick—“Look over here! Don’t focus on the obvious!” Sure, Biden had some legislative wins, but they were overshadowed by soaring inflation, an unchecked border crisis, rising crime, and a sense of chaos both domestically and abroad.
And let’s not forget: Chuck Schumer wouldn’t even answer whether Biden could have served a full term if he’d been reelected. That question wasn’t rhetorical—it was a litmus test. And Schumer failed. His “I’m not going to speculate” non-answer was all the confirmation anyone needed.
The damage is already done. Joe Biden will be remembered not as the wise elder statesman the Democrats tried to sell, but as the man who handed Donald Trump the keys back to the White House. And Kamala Harris? Well, she’ll be remembered as the uninspiring, unelectable heir who managed to lose swing states that Democrats needed to win.
Schumer also fumbled when asked about James Carville’s New York Times op-ed, in which the veteran Democratic strategist bluntly stated that the party “lost the message on the economy.” Instead of owning the failure, Schumer waffled. He blamed “headwinds” and pivoted to the party’s success in holding onto Senate seats in swing states. But that’s the problem—those same states rejected Kamala Harris at the top of the ticket.
It wasn’t just about “headwinds,” Chuck. It was about trust. It was about credibility. It was about looking Americans in the eye and telling them, “Everything is fine,” while Biden stumbled through speeches, forgot names, and projected weakness on the world stage.
Schumer’s final takeaway was that Democrats need to “show more empathy” and “talk to working families.” But here’s the reality: No amount of “empathy” or “messaging” can undo the damage caused by bad policies and outright dishonesty. Working families aren’t struggling because Democrats didn’t sound empathetic enough—they’re struggling because gas is expensive, groceries are unaffordable, the border is wide open, and crime is out of control.
The Democratic leadership bet everything on Biden being able to limp across the finish line. They dismissed concerns, silenced critics, and scoffed at warnings from within their own party. Now, with Trump poised to return to the White House, they’re left picking through the rubble of their failed strategy.
