Hanson: Jeffries and Schumer Are ‘Dr. Frankensteins’ Who Created a DSA Monster They Can’t Control

Conservative historian Victor Davis Hanson is drawing a literary parallel to describe the current state of the Democratic Party, comparing House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer to Dr. Frankenstein—creators of a force they can no longer control.

During a recent podcast, Hanson, a classicist, military historian, and Hoover Institution fellow, argued Monday that the growing influence of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) within the party mirrors the classic tale. He said establishment figures like Jeffries and Schumer helped cultivate a political movement that has now become unmanageable.

“They were the Dr. Frankensteins, and they created this socialist Frankensteinian monster, and now it’s devouring them because they’re weak,” Hanson said, according to a clip shared on social media.

A Party Consumed from Within

Hanson suggested the problem extends beyond just Jeffries and Schumer, applying to leading voices across the Democratic Party. He argued they all allowed an ideology to creep into the party, and now that ideology is taking over, leaving leaders uncertain how to respond.

The party, he said, is being consumed from the inside out by the DSA, and it has no one to blame but itself.

His critique was sharpened by the perceived weakness of Democratic leaders. Hanson described Jeffries as “like a deer in the headlights,” with his eyes rolling, and dismissed his responses as “gibberish.” He characterized Schumer as reading from a script, repeating vague pledges to “work very hard” and elect Democrats without addressing the socialist influence within the party.

“Well, does that mean you’re going to work with these socialists, or are there some that you can’t be in the same state?” Hanson asked rhetorically. He called them “old, fuddy-duddy, ossified, calcified hacks.”

Irony of the Situation

Hanson noted the irony that if the DSA gains enough control within the Democratic Party, it could oust Jeffries and Schumer from their leadership positions. He pointed out that many within the DSA have spoken publicly about such a move.

The comments come amid ongoing tension within the Democratic Party between its moderate establishment and its more progressive, socialist-leaning wing. The DSA has gained influence in recent years, backing primary challengers and pushing for policies like Medicare for All and the Green New Deal.

Hanson’s remarks are likely to resonate with conservatives who have long warned about the leftward drift of the Democratic Party, but they also highlight a growing intra-party debate about the direction of the opposition.

Neither Jeffries nor Schumer has responded publicly to Hanson’s comments.

Source: www.thegatewaypundit.com — https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2026/08/victor-davis-hanson-compares-hakeem-jeffries-chuck-schumer/