Trump jabs at Democrats, says they might change party name to ‘Socialist Party’

President Trump on Friday jabbed Democrats, claiming there is a “rumor” the party will change its name to the “Socialist Party.”

He leveled the attack while answering questions alongside Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro ahead of a bilateral meeting at the Group of 20 summit in Osaka, Japan. 

Trump said that he was not “impressed” by the Democratic primary debates this week, and accused Democrats of moving toward socialism.

“That’s become like the Socialist Party,” he said, quipping: “There’s a rumor the Democrats are going to change the name of the party from the ‘Democrat Party’ to the ‘Socialist Party.'” 

The president did not elaborate on or substantiate his remark.

Trump: “You know I’ve been watching the debates a little bit in between meetings & I wasn’t impressed…It’s become like the Socialist Party. In fact I heard there’s a rumor the Democrats are going to change the name of the party from the Democratic Party to the Socialist Party.” pic.twitter.com/592vnWr6wq

— The Hill (@thehill) June 28, 2019

Trump’s comments came in response to a reporter’s question about whether he has lost “momentum” on addressing the political crisis in Venezuela. Trump defended his administration providing humanitarian aid to Venezuela and criticized “socialism” for its role in the unrest.

“It’s a humanitarian crisis,” he said of Venezuela. “That just shows what socialism can do.”

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), one of the front-runners in the field of two dozen, is a self-described democratic socialist, but is the only 2020 Democratic contender to embrace this label. 

Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), another 2020 contender, said earlier this year that it is “just wrong” to label her a socialist.

Trump and other Republicans have repeatedly sought to paint the Democratic Party as moving toward socialism, especially as some candidates express support for proposals like “Medicare for All.” Many Democrats, while rejecting the socialist label, have also warned that a push too far to the left will hurt their chances of taking back the White House.

Twenty of the more than two dozen Democratic presidential hopefuls faced off this week in two nights of debate.