Van Jones admits ‘Trump is smarter than all of us,’ says Dems ‘look like idiots’

In a conversation with former CNN political reporter Chris Cillizza, Jones addressed how Trump managed to secure the White House again in 2024, along with flipping the Senate and maintaining the majority in the House. Cillizza questioned how the 78-year-old Trump had “cracked the code” on running a cultural movement instead of a traditional political campaign at a time when the media landscape has drastically changed in the US.

Jones dismissed those who question how Trump has been so successful and highlighted the president-elect’s influence.

“Let me just be very clear: Donald Trump is smarter than me, you, and all the critics,” Jones told Cillizza. “You know how I know? Because he has the White House, the Senate, the House, the Supreme Court, the popular vote, he has a massive media ecosystem bigger than the mainstream built around him and for him, and religious fervor in a political movement around him.”

Jones further emphasized Trump’s powerful allies, referencing Elon Musk, whom he called "the richest person in the history of the world," and Robert F. Kennedy Jr., saying, “the most relevant Kennedy is with him.”

“This dude is a phenomenon, he is the most powerful human on Earth and in our lifetime,” Jones continued. He went on to mock the left for questioning how Trump won this election, saying they look like “idiots to ordinary people” for wondering how Trump has had so much popularity and success. Van Jones has been sounding the alarm to Democrats that their approach with Trump, with media, and with America is not working. He's repeatedly warned them to take a step back and take stock of their relationship with their viewers and the broader media landscape.

The exchange, also shared on X by Eric Abbenante, quickly went viral.