Democratic strategist James Carville has advised his party to take a passive approach, essentially "playing possum," as public backlash against President Trump and his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) initiatives continues to escalate. During an appearance on MSNBC's "The Beat with Ari Melber," Carville discussed the ongoing protests against Trump's mass firings of federal employees, expressing encouragement at the rising tide of dissent. He suggested Democrats avoid interfering with the growing momentum, stating, "Don't get in the way of it...let this germinate."

Carville's "possum" strategy involves allowing the public discontent to fester and grow organically, believing that intervening would be counterproductive. He likened the current political climate to a "freight train" gaining speed, advising Democrats to simply step aside. He evoked the famous line from the movie "Roadhouse": "Be nice until it’s time not to be nice," hinting that a time for more assertive action will come soon.

Carville highlighted the potential impact of disgruntled federal workers and their families on upcoming elections, particularly in areas with high concentrations of government employees, such as Northern Virginia. He expressed confidence that these individuals will turn out to vote in significant numbers and suggested their votes will likely be cast against the current administration. While acknowledging feelings of despair, Carville emphasized his optimism fueled by the recent protests, reiterating his belief that Democrats should allow the situation to unfold naturally.

The backdrop to this political maneuvering is President Trump's collaboration with Elon Musk and the DOGE program, aimed at curbing government spending, which has resulted in thousands of federal layoffs. Legal challenges are mounting, with attorneys general from 14 states filing a lawsuit to halt further firings, and a ruling from D.C. District Judge Tanya Chutkan is anticipated.