Rep. Eric Swalwell laughingly referred to Democrats as a team of “Avengers” fighting against President Donald Trump and his administration.
The California Democrat was speaking on CNN’s “The Arena” on Tuesday about those purportedly “targeted” by Trump who have not “flinched or bent” under pressure, responding to host Kasie Hunt’s question about leadership in the party. He seemed to think Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas, and Sen. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., were akin to the Marvel superheroes.
“What has given me hope is that not a single one of them, no one from Mark Kelly to Elissa Slotkin to Jimmy Kimmel, who’s also, you know, had his show taken off the air because of the president, no one who’s been targeted by this president has flinched or bent or hidden under the bed,” he said, noting the group of six Democrats who have come under fire for a “seditious” video urging military and itelligence community emmebrs to ignore illegal orders.
“It’s the Avengers”: @RepSwalwell names Rep. Jasmine Crockett and Sen. Ruben Gallego as some of the Democratic Party’s leaders. ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/bsanSJ6Ou3
— The Arena on CNN (@TheArenaCNN) November 25, 2025
“We’re all standing up to him because we believe that it will always be the truth over Trump,” said Swalwell, who announced his run for California governor.
“Yeah. Well, leading up to Prop 50, I had gone across the state to help us get the five seats back that Texas had taken. And I heard two things, two things from voters, people are scared, and prices are high,” he continued.
“Who do you think is the leader of the Democratic Party?” Hunt asked.
“It’s the Avengers right now, right?” Swalwell responded.
“You’ve got Jasmine Crockett coming to California, helping us elevate the vote to pass Prop 50. Ruben Gallego is going to Iowa and New Hampshire as a Marine, Latino, first in his family to go to college. There’s a bunch of us who are stepping up, but we all understand, you know, the assignment, and that is to bring down prices, period,” he said.
Hunt asked about Gov. Gavin Newsom as a leader, in light of speculation that he will possible 2028 presidential candidate.
“Well, he is a show, don‘t tell leader,” Swalwell replied.
“And that‘s why, you know, you‘re seeing also his leadership style being mimicked by others in a good way because some Democratic leaders send eight-page, strongly-worded letters to the president when they don‘t like something. Gavin Newsom goes to the courts and wins to get the troops out of our streets. And he went to the voters and has won to match what Texas did with their redistricting process. That show, not tell style is what people expect right now,” he added.
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Originally from New York, Powers graduated from New York University and eventually made her way to sunny South Florida. Powers also contributes to BizPac Review.
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