Democrats are currently strategizing ways to combat President Trump’s actions, reclaim their political identity, and reconstruct their coalition while the government is being exploited by Trump and his group of billionaire oligarchs.

Here’s a proposal: Democrats should embody the party of legal standards. Enforcing laws to support consumers, workers, and small businesses isn’t just morally right – it also conveys a powerful political message.

Over the years, the federal government has neglected its responsibility and failed to utilize its authority to counter elite corruption, unlawful business practices, and economic manipulation. This caused people to feel disillusioned, leading to the unrest that Donald Trump capitalized on to secure the presidency.

During my tenure as chief of staff for Federal Trade Commission Chair Lina Khan, we diligently enforced antitrust regulations without bias. We pursued companies engaged in unlawful market monopolization, irrespective of their owners’ political affiliations.

We took action against major companies like Amazon, Meta, Microsoft, Big Pharma, John Deere, and Pepsi, not based on their executives’ political views, but because the law mandated us to safeguard American consumers, workers, and small business proprietors.

Our efforts were well-received. We engaged with workers and shoppers concerned about the potential impact of a merger between Kroger and Albertsons, the two largest grocery store operators.

The response was bipartisan, and the atmosphere was energized, but people did express their skepticism, anticipating that our actions would end once we returned to Washington.

Instead of succumbing to cynicism, we contested the merger, saw it blocked by a judge, and recently witnessed the resignation of the CEO of one of the companies involved.

Nonetheless, Trump effectively tapped into that cynicism and the prevalent belief that the economy is manipulated. He convinced Americans that he would challenge the elite consensus that had devastated communities, outsourced jobs, and shut down numerous small and medium-sized businesses in favor of large, indifferent conglomerates. He pledged to revive the government’s authority to advocate for its citizens.

However, his administration is filled with oligarchs. His inauguration featured prominent figures such as Amazon’s Jeff Bezos, Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg, Google’s Sundar Pichai, Apple’s Tim Cook, and TikTok’s Shou Zi Chew. Elon Musk, the world’s wealthiest individual, played a major role in Trump’s second presidency, even being portrayed on a Time magazine cover in the Oval Office.

Under Trump, the White House operated recklessly, bypassing Congress and at times disregarding legal statutes. The hastily-established Department of Government Efficiency faced legal challenges from the Supreme Court, which overturned some of its unlawful actions.

Certain voices within the Democratic Party reflect fondly on a time when oligarchs supported their party. They believe that the wealth and backing of these individuals were vital components of their party’s governing coalition, and advocate for restoring their friendship, even if it means allowing their businesses to function beyond the law.

For instance, writer Matt Yglesias recently justified Jeff Bezos altering the Washington Post’s editorial board due to the FTC’s antitrust lawsuit against Amazon under Khan’s leadership. He implied that such actions were a consequence of not rewarding Bezos for his assistance during the first Trump administration.

In essence, Democrats should consider exempting powerful business allies from certain regulations to prevent them from supporting opposing parties.

Last year, Democratic donor Reid Hoffman urged for Khan’s removal as FTC Chair since the agency was investigating a company he co-founded in relation to Microsoft, of which he is a board member.

The public largely supported our efforts to hold oligarchs accountable and apply the law justly to all.

These principles of fairness, integral to the American ethos, have been eclipsed by technocrats, money in politics, and the influence of wealthy corporations and lobbyists over the government.

The average American may not comprehend antitrust laws but can see businesses flourishing to the point where they exploit consumers unpunished. They observe the unequal application of rules based on connections and financial influence.

This injustice sparks intense frustration among the public, motivating them to take drastic electoral actions over three consecutive elections.

Therefore, Democrats must not persist with the old operational model. They must prove they are willing to utilize existing congressional laws to enact tangible economic reforms.

Another ten years of Democrats neglecting legal statutes to appease elite donors will only reinforce the notion that the government is corrupt and ineffective.

Candidates in the upcoming midterm elections and potential Democratic presidential contenders in 2028 should heed this advice. Democrats should embody legal standards, regardless of the ire it may provoke from oligarchs.

Governing is not about appeasing a select few wealthy and influential individuals. It’s about demonstrating to the American populace that the system is functional, and the law applies universally. By opposing economic lawlessness, Democrats can reveal their allegiance.