CNN political commentator Van Jones criticized Democrats during an appearance on HBO’s Real Time Friday, saying the decision to allow a government shutdown was poorly timed and could damage the party politically.

Jones described the move as Democrats doing “the wrong thing at the wrong time for the right reason,” arguing that shutting down the federal government would have immediate negative consequences for federal workers and government services.

“I am going to maybe piss off some of my Democratic friends, but I think you can always trust our party to do the wrong thing at the wrong time for the right reason, okay,” Jones said.

“So, here’s the problem: Right now, if the Democrats don’t do anything and they pass this clean resolution, which they don’t want to do, if they did it, guess what would happen this month? Premiums would start going through the roof this month. By the time you get to the end of November, you would have Americans marching in the streets saying, I can’t pay 150% more for my insurance premiums, what the heck is going on?”

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He continued, “Instead, we decided to not let that happen and shut the entire government down. So, now, people are going to be mad about the Post Office and a hundred other things that Republicans can then blame on us. So, I’m like, I get it, the base is upset, the base wants us to do something, please do something, do anything, but the something probably shouldn’t be throwing a bunch of people out of work in the federal government and crushing America’s government’s ability to function right before the pain was about to start. So, that’s my concern.”

Jones emphasized that he supported Democrats having leverage but believed the shutdown was not executed at the right time.

“I like the fact that we have this leverage, and I just want to use it at the right time,” he said.

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The CNN commentator also recounted a recent conversation with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), pointing to what he viewed as inconsistency in the Democratic leadership’s stance on shutdowns.

“The weird thing is, I talked to Chuck Schumer about this like three months ago, and he was kicking me in the butt, because I had been tough on him for not allowing the government to shut down, and he convinced me that shutting the government down is stupid. Then I come on TV and he says, we’re now shutting the government down. I said, hold on a second, guys.”

Jones argued that Republicans were vulnerable over rising health care costs and that Democrats could have timed their strategy differently.

“So, look, my view is, the Republicans were about to let a bunch of Americans, 15 million Americans, step on a rake called their insurance premiums going through the roof. That’s when you shut the government down, but you do it before, and, now, it’s just going to be one more piece of garbage coming at the American people. I just think the timing’s not that great, but, look, maybe it’ll work.”

Jones’ remarks highlight divisions within the Democratic Party over how to approach the standoff and the broader political risks of a prolonged shutdown.

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