The power of a good nickname can be quite lasting—think of historical figures like Vlad the Impaler or Charles the Bald. And of course, Bill Clinton is often referred to as America’s first black president.
Democrats understand the impact a fitting nickname can have, but it seems they struggle with the execution part.
For instance, a recent statement from the Democratic National Committee (DNC) seemed to suggest avoiding “Doodle Don.” This “doodle” refers to a controversial portrayal of Donald Trump in the Wall Street Journal. The piece allegedly depicted Trump sending a risqué birthday letter to Jeffrey Epstein in 2003, accompanied by hand-drawn sketches. The report has drawn a lot of attention.
In response, Trump has claimed that the Wall Street Journal “printed a fake letter,” insisting that he didn’t engage in drawing. His denial included a variety of rebuttals, but the more pressing matter concerns the implications of nicknames themselves. They can forge alliances, but on their own, they’re not enough. Take “Putin’s Puppet,” which some use to describe Trump—a nickname that doesn’t quite stick as well as others.
Trump often downplays the force of his nicknames. Here are a few: Cheat Donald, Crybaby Donald, and Blame-Game Donald. -R
– Ralph Nader (@ralphnader) October 11, 2017
Knowing that nicknames resonate with certain voters, Trump’s team is attempting to find something that fits Kamala Harris, with “Crazy Kamala” being a frontrunner. Surprisingly, the Democrats…
– Ralph Nader (@ralphnader) August 13, 2024
Ralph Nader has been attempting to assign a nickname to Trump for at least seven years. After a long period of contemplation, he resurfaced in 2024 with “The Law Violator Don.”
The Democrats have also attempted some unwieldy nicknames, such as “Trump Always Kicks Out Chickens,” which a Reddit user claimed will stick. They emphasize that tacos, representing fast food, seem inferior when compared to actual meals, and that the nickname reflects something superficial.
I used to think tacos were strictly Mexican fare, but now I wonder if that’s culturally insensitive. If all else fails, there’s always the infamous comparison to Adolf Hitler.
Texas Democrat Jasmine Crockett called Trump an “aspiring Hitler” during an MSNBC segment, while former Vice President Al Gore took a slightly more measured approach, referencing historical parallels between Trump’s administration and Hitler’s regime. The term “Literally Hitler” has been widely circulated, and there have even been articles arguing that “Trump is not Hitler.”
MSNBC’s Alex Witt heard Rep. Jasmine Crockett refer to Trump as “aspiring Hitler,” and she carried on the discussion for another 27 seconds without objection, moving on to another question. The statement is seemingly accepted without much pushback. @politifact hasn’t addressed it. pic.twitter.com/bowycbwhrw
– Tim Graham (@timjgraham) July 20, 2025
Democrats seem to be throwing various nicknames at the wall to see what sticks, hoping to imitate Trump’s success without quite capturing it. They might want to heed Trump’s example a bit more closely.
Perhaps they could even rattle off a few nicknames, especially since Trump’s appellations like “Pocahontas” for Elizabeth Warren, “Sleepy Joe” for Biden, and “Bent Hillary” for Clinton have all resonated.
The DNC has attempted to counter some of these with new suggestions, like renaming Biden as “Winner.” But that hasn’t gone over well.
Why, one might wonder, do Democrats struggle so much with creating nicknames? They seem to be putting in the effort, but perhaps they lack the joy and sass that often accompany such names. Trump’s nicknames come off almost effortlessly, while the Democrats seem like they’re trying too hard, often lacking the punch.
So, the advice for Democrats is pretty standard: perhaps try something simpler and a bit more clever.
