NEW HAVEN, Conn. (Diya TV) — California Congressman Ro Khanna is carving a distinct path through the Democratic Party’s leadership vacuum, delivering sharp rebukes to political rivals and campaigning across battleground districts, all while signaling — if subtly — that he is laying the foundation for a 2028 White House run.
On Tuesday at Yale Law School, Khanna sharply criticized Vice President JD Vance, a fellow alumnus and potential Republican presidential contender. In a searing speech, Khanna accused Vance of threatening constitutional norms and free speech by encouraging former President Donald Trump to defy Supreme Court rulings and portraying elite universities as enemies.
“When a student is snatched from campus and denied due process, speak up,” Khanna told the audience. “What is needed now are the small acts of conscience that together shape the soul of a nation.”
The Yale appearance followed a weekend rally in Los Angeles with Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt..), where Khanna railed against billionaire donors like Elon Musk — a top Trump supporter — and called for taxing the ultra-wealthy. “It’s time to tax the billionaires,” he declared, drawing cheers from progressive activists.
As the Democratic Party regroups after losing working-class voters in 2024, Khanna is emerging as one of its most vocal and visible figures. He has crisscrossed the country — from Appalachia to suburban Detroit — focusing on regions hollowed out by deindustrialization, promoting what he calls “economic patriotism.”
“I’ve been left with a feeling of great sadness,” Khanna said during a recent appearance at the City Club of Cleveland, “but also a deeper understanding that Americans are justifiably frustrated with the political system that has let them down.”
While some party insiders scoff at the idea of the relatively unknown House member launching a viable presidential bid, Khanna appears undeterred. He amassed a $13.4 million war chest, according to his campaign, and raised $3.6 million in the first quarter of 2025 alone.
Khanna has leaned into appearances that others in his party have avoided, including conservative media. He’s debated YouTubers like Tim Pool and podcasters such as Patrick Bet-David, whose previous guests include controversial figures like Andrew Tate and Alex Jones, in a bid to reach broader audiences and challenge conservative narratives.
“Our debate has become too stale in the Democratic Party,” Khanna said. “Are we so policing language and expression that we’re unwilling to mix it up?”
He often contrasts himself with Vance, who he says is part of an effort to dismantle government institutions. Their rivalry has increasingly played out in public. Earlier this year, Khanna publicly challenged Vance on X (formerly Twitter) after the senator pushed to rehire a Trump official who had advocated to “normalize Indian hate.”
“Are you going to tell him to apologize?” Khanna asked Vance, “Just asking for the sake of both of our kids.” Khanna’s boldness is not without political risk. His Silicon Valley ties and advocacy for progressive policies like Medicare-for-all have led some Democratic strategists to label him a long shot. Still, others see opportunity amid the party’s leadership void.
“We as a party are in between leaders,” said Jim Manley, a longtime aide to the late Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid, in comments to The Washington Post. “That’s going to allow anyone interested to try and figure out whether they have what it takes to run for president — or at least raise their profile.”
For now, Khanna insists his focus is on helping Democrats reclaim working-class trust and counter what he calls “false populism” from Trump and his allies. “My view is, after eight years of Trump’s sloganeering, people are going to want true solutions,” Khanna said. “This gives us a chance to say, ‘We have the vision of how we’re going to build this country.’”
