Democratic strategist James Carville grew visibly disgruntled with Fox News host Martha MacCallum Wednesday as she pressed him on why Democrats are struggling to connect with Americans.

MacCallum confronted the longtime strategist on whether it is politically beneficial for Democrats to defend Mahmoud Khalil, a noncitizen on a student visa who led anti-Israel protests, while the administration is taking strides to deport him. Carville appeared visibly agitated as MacCallum pressed him on how the Democrats’ current messaging and reactions to the Trump administration is resonating with voters.

“Is this a good hill to die on for Democrats while they’re trying to fix the party, James?” MacCallum asked.

“I thought the Republicans were the free speech party. I’m a little bit confused because they’re always talking about defending free speech. If he committed a crime, then that’s one thing. If he exercised free speech rights, that’s another thing,” Carville said. “But that’s not the hill to die on. [Secretary of State] Marco Rubio is busy fighting with Elon Musk in cabinet meetings. I’m surprised he has any time to deal with this because he’s trying to get the State Department to survive internally.”

WATCH:

Khalil and his student-led organization, the Columbia University Apartheid Group, built encampments on the university’s campus without permission, seized the campuses’ Hamilton Hall on April 30 and made Jewish students flee for their safety. The group called on Columbia University to divest and sanction Israel over its counteroffensive in Gaza following Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023 terrorist attack.

MacCallum suggested that defending an anti-Israel activist who involved himself in building encampments and occupying Columbia University is not going to “resonate” with independent and undecided voters.

“I’m just asking if this is what you think is going to resonate and pull voters back because only 27% of voters think that the Democrats’ message is resonating with them, and, you know as well as I do, that’s not going to win elections,” MacCallum said.

“Can I answer, or [do] I just have to sit here and take it?” Carville asked, with MacCallum giving him permission to talk. “I think what’s resonating with voters is that we have markets collapsing. I think what’s going to resonate with voters is that we’re attacking veterans. We’re attacking veterans’ healthcare. We’re attacking national parks. I think that’s gonna resonate with voters. I think that’s what’s going to really matter. And you wait until growth numbers come out in the first quarter, I don’t think they’re going to be very good, alright?”

The markets improved Wednesday after taking a downturn in the past week, while inflation has visibly slowed in February as the Consumer Price Index increased 2.8%. The U.S. stock market slid Monday as the Dow dropped almost 900 points, and the S&P 500 fell 2.7%.

Carville’s accusations that Trump is “attacking” veterans, healthcare and national parks stems from the Department of Government Efficiency’s (DOGE’s) efforts to eliminate wasteful and fraudulent spending in the government. DOGE reported it has saved $105 billion in federal spending and saved each individual taxpayer, on average, $652.17.

Democrats have raged against DOGE’s cuts and even uttered violent rhetoric as a result of the agency’s cuts, including Democrat Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar, who alleged that they may “actually see someone get killed.”

A Quinnipiac University survey from late January found that Democrats held a record 57% disapproval rating among voters, while just 31% held a favorable view. Republicans held a 43% favorable rating and a 45% unfavorable rating.

(Featured Image Media Credit: Screenshot/Fox News)