Dan Turrentine, a former adviser to the Democratic Party and a frequent voice on Mark Halperin’s 2Way podcast, has recently taken a bold stance against his party’s calls for President Trump’s impeachment following a military strike on Iran. Rather than criticizing the president, Turrentine argues that Democrats should recognize the significance of the operation instead.
In a political landscape where opposition to Trump seems reflexive, Turrentine’s insights shed light on the self-imposed constraints of the Democratic Party.
FOX News reports:
Former Democratic adviser criticizes ‘unhinged calls for impeachment’ after Trump’s strike on Iran as ‘glaring TDS’
Turrentine articulated that the “unhinged calls for impeachment” following Trump’s military actions against Iran are a textbook example of what he terms “Trump Derangement Syndrome.” This comes after the White House initiated “Operation: Midnight Hammer,” targeting three key nuclear facilities in Iran. In the wake of this strike, many Democrats labeled the action as “unconstitutional,” suggesting potential impeachment for Trump’s decision to bypass Congress.
Having previously worked under notable Democratic figures such as Hillary Clinton and Governor Jared Polis, Turrentine expressed on social media that the party needs to reconsider its rhetoric regarding impeachment.
“It was too disheartening to address this last night, so I took a break. However, it must be articulated: this action does not constitute an impeachable offense, and Trump was not required to seek congressional approval for such a precision strike, analogous to Obama’s operation against Bin Laden,” Turrentine stated.
Turrentine’s full tweet elaborates:
“After our broadcast, I needed a moment to digest everything. Yet, it must be repeated among Democrats: this was not impeachable, and there was no need for congressional consent for the strike, just as it was not required when Obama ordered the Bin Laden operation. Why can’t our party acknowledge that we achieved a critical objective by dismantling Iran’s nuclear capabilities? Let’s express gratitude for the soldiers who executed this mission safely, honor our military and allies, and anticipate a comprehensive intelligence briefing. If congressional authority must be asserted, let it be clear that any further escalation will require it. Additionally, it’s important to voice concerns regarding potential outcomes. However, to immediately jump to impeachment while neglecting the longstanding Democratic principle of preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons is a clear display of TDS.”
“It was too disheartening to address this last night, so I took a break. However, it must be articulated: this action does not constitute an impeachable offense, and Trump was not required to seek congressional approval…”
— dan turrentine (@danturrentine) June 22, 2025
Turrentine also made an appearance on Jesse Watters Primetime, discussing the apparent lack of strategic direction within the Democratic Party. He remarked:
NEW: @danturrentine CRITICIZES Dems for lacking any “agenda”
“The issue we face is a lack of an agenda. Successful campaigns are rooted in the tangible realities of people’s lives, driven by effective leadership and positive messaging. Unfortunately, we have none of these elements.”
— Jason Cohen (@JasonJournoDC) June 19, 2025
If the Democratic Party were to embrace Turrentine’s perspective, they might find a path out of their current political quagmire.
