Immigration

Josh Hawley: Democrats Are the Party of Contempt, Not Solutions

Published

July 18, 2025

Appearing on The Ingraham Angle, Missouri Senator Josh Hawley delivered a sharp rebuke of the Democratic Party’s messaging, policies, and leadership. Responding to host Laura Ingraham’s observation that Democrats now claim they must be “tougher” and more confrontational, Hawley argued that Democrats have already perfected the politics of personal attack—and that their real problem lies in what they’re offering, not how they’re saying it.

“I love this idea, Laura, that they think they need to be more insulting,” Hawley said with disbelief. “Oh, believe me, they’re plenty insulting. I mean, I feel insulted every time I have to listen to them.” But Hawley said the real issue isn’t their tone—it’s their contempt for average Americans. “Here’s their real problem: their total contempt for the American people and the American worker and everything we believe in together.”

From Open Borders to Gender Extremism: “They’re Totally Nuts”

Hawley listed what he sees as a string of radical Democratic positions that alienate mainstream voters—from open borders to identity politics. “This is the party that goes to L.A. and blows up cars on the freeways while they wave Mexican flags,” he said. “They say we’ve got to open the border because America is systemically racist… and that there’s no such thing as a man or a woman.”

To Hawley, the issue isn’t messaging—it’s ideology. “It’s not the messaging. It’s not the brand. It’s the substance. That’s why they’re down in the dumps, and that’s why Trump is winning.”

“A Theater Troupe Funded by George Soros”

Referencing the viral footage of a chaotic congressional hearing, Hawley, who was present during the outburst, criticized what he called performative antics by Democrats. “They’re not a party anymore. They’re a theater troupe funded by George Soros,” he said. “Their behavior is clownish. And the reason that they’re clowning around is because their policies are so terrible. They don’t have anything to offer.”

Instead, he drew a contrast with Trump’s record: “Open borders, jobs gone overseas, corporate malfeasance, wages flat—that’s what Democrats gave us. What’s Trump doing? He’s closed the border, he’s getting our jobs back, wages for blue-collar workers are finally rising. That’s the ballgame. Game, set, match.”

Defending Prisons and Rejecting Radicalism

Hawley also responded to a viral clip of a progressive Democrat questioning the need for prisons. As a former prosecutor, he made his position clear. “Here’s the purpose they serve: they keep violent people away from law-abiding citizens. They keep our kids safe,” he said. “It’s amazing you have to explain this stuff to Democrats. And then they wonder why their approval rating is at like 3 percent.”

Americans, he argued, see the difference. “They look at the Democrat Party and they see a dumpster fire. And they look at Donald Trump and they see an adult. That’s the difference.”

No More Amnesty: “Republicans Need to Listen”

The conversation then turned to renewed efforts by some lawmakers to revive comprehensive immigration reform and amnesty proposals—something Ingraham has long opposed. Hawley didn’t hold back.

“Amnesty is always a bad idea,” he declared. “It is a myth that Americans don’t want to work. When these corporations won’t pay Americans a decent wage, that’s the problem.” He credited Trump with reversing that trend: “We see Americans out there willing to work under Donald Trump. Wages are going up.”

Calling on his party to reject its establishment instincts, Hawley added, “The Republican Party has got to shake off its losing ways. No more of this establishment, comprehensive immigration. Trump’s already done it. Bring in a flood of immigrants? No. He’s fixed it.”

A Clear Contrast Ahead of 2026

Laura closed the segment with a warning that any return to failed immigration compromises will face strong opposition—not just from the MAGA movement, but from working-class Americans. Hawley agreed, making it clear that the political stakes are high and the choice is sharp.

As Hawley put it, the Democrats are offering chaos and contempt—Trump is offering results. And the American people are noticing.