Attacking former President Donald Trump following the 2026 midterm elections would be a "dumbest thing Democrats could do" if they gain control of Congress, according to businessman and podcaster Patrick Bet-David.
In an appearance on "Pod Force One," Bet-David predicted that such actions could lead to a resurgence of the MAGA movement, potentially propelling Eric or Lara Trump to presidential candidacy in 2028. He posited that if Democrats pursue the "same playbook they used in 2020, 2021," referring to impeachment and investigations, it could prompt the MAGA base to rally behind a new generation of Trumps.
"If they go and they try to arrest, impeach – the same playbook they used in 2020, 2021 – if they do that…. you know who will suddenly show up in the 2027-2028 election running for president? Not just [Secretary of State Marco] Rubio, not [Vice President] JD Vance, but Eric and Lara Trump," Bet-David told host Miranda Devine.
Bet-David highlighted the potential viability of Eric and Lara Trump as candidates, describing them as "media trained. They have the money. They’re good-looking. They’re young. Their last name is Trump." He suggested that their candidacy would serve as a symbolic rejection of a third term for Trump, a sentiment he believes would resonate with the base.
"And just to give the Democratic Party a middle finger, I think the MAGA base will get behind them enough to help them win because that’s their way of saying three terms of Trump," he stated.
Despite the potential for Eric and Lara Trump to emerge as strong contenders, Bet-David cautioned that they might not secure enough support to win the Republican primaries outright. However, he suggested that one of them could still reach the "top three" in the primary field.
He specifically praised Lara Trump's role as co-chair of the Republican National Committee during the 2024 election cycle, calling her "very talented" and a "secret weapon." Bet-David recalled her efforts to deploy lawyers to monitor districts for potential irregularities during the 2024 election, indicating her capability in managing behind-the-scenes operations.
"When the president won in 2024, don’t forget, Lara deployed 2,000 lawyers to go to every one of the districts that they were possibly considering cheating. She watched everybody like a hawk," he explained.
Bet-David concluded that while pursuing Trump legally or politically might seem like a strategic move for Democrats, it risks invigorating the Trump-aligned electorate and empowering new figures within the family to carry the political torch.