Conservative scholar and historian Victor Davis Hanson discussed the rise of candidates affiliated with the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) during an appearance on Fox News with host Laura Ingraham on July 20, arguing that the movement does not represent a traditional grassroots political coalition, as reported by The Gateway Pundit.
During the interview, Hanson said he believes many of the people supporting DSA-backed candidates come from affluent and highly educated backgrounds rather than working-class communities.
He argued that frustration over housing affordability among some young professionals has contributed to support for socialist policies.
Hanson also commented on what he described as an ideological contradiction among some supporters of the movement, saying he found it unusual that many people he characterized as atheists have supported Muslim political candidates.
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In addition to discussing the DSA, Hanson criticized what he described as inconsistencies between the economic messaging of some Democratic politicians and their personal lifestyles.
“A lot of urban people think this message is cool because it promises them free stuff. But when you have Ro Khanna attacking capitalism while his wife drives a $200,000 Range Rover, Gavin Newsom living in a $9 million house, and socialist influencers driving Porsches, the hypocrisy becomes impossible to ignore.”
The discussion followed commentary Hanson has published at The Daily Signal, where he has written about changes within the Democratic Party.
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During the Fox News interview, Hanson argued that Democratic candidates have at times been presented as middle-class figures despite, in his view, records that differ from those public images.
“Have you noticed this phenomenon of the Democrat-socialist party trying to create fake or false or pseudo middle-class candidates?”
He pointed to the 2024 presidential campaign and referenced Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz.
“We saw it in the 2024 campaign when they put Tim Walz in that position. I mean, we were told that he changes his own oil, that he was in the National Guard.”
Hanson continued by arguing that further scrutiny changed that public perception.
“Of course, they didn’t really do a background check because they thought, ‘Why would we have to? He’s a middle-class, duck-hunting man of the people in Minnesota.’”
He added, “And then, of course, all of that fell apart when he was an elitist, he was a radical leftist, he lied about his military service, his time in Red China, etc., etc.”
Hanson also discussed Texas Democrat James Talarico, suggesting Democrats viewed him as a stronger statewide candidate than Rep. Jasmine Crockett.
“We’re watching a little bit of that with [James] Talarico. They were so desperate to take a Senate seat in Texas that the Left thought, you know, Beto [O’Rourke] came off a little too elitist from a wealthy family. We got now Talarico, and he’s a Christian evangelical man of the people.”
He continued, “So, they leaped at him, and they thought, this guy, not Jasmine Crockett. She’s too extreme, we understand that. But he can get through a socialist agenda because he’s a Texan, and he’s Christian, and he’s an evangelical.”
The interview focused on Hanson's assessment of the Democratic Party, the role of DSA-backed candidates, and the public image of several Democratic politicians. His remarks were presented as political commentary during his appearance on Fox News.
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