“The Schadenfreude Seems as Hollow as Their Beliefs”: Hayes Brown Urges Left to Resist Relishing MAGA Regret

Following The Washington Post‘s report on President-elect Donald Trump supporters fearing cuts to their own government benefits, MSNBC columnist Hayes Brown has observed an outpouring of schadenfreude from Trump critics. However, Brown is calling on the left to resist the temptation to revel in the potential misery of Trump voters.

“The recent tales of early-stage regret and fear are prompting a sense of grim satisfaction from some on the left… Whatever happens, these Trump supporters will be getting what they deserve,” Brown wrote Monday. “It’s hard for me to reach that conclusion, though. The schadenfreude that others are feeling or anticipating seems as hollow as the beliefs that Trump supporters projected onto him.

As I see it, the problem with taking solace in the suffering of others in this case is that it still requires the suffering of others.” While Brown acknowledges the appeal of mocking Trump supporters for decisions that may now backfire, he cautions against dismissing their agency in making those choices. Instead, he urges readers to recognize the broader impact of Trump’s policy goals, which will hurt more than just his voter base.

“The hardships that Americans will face should Republicans succeed in decimating the social safety net will be immense,” Brown warned. He argued that the pain inflicted by dismantling crucial programs like Medicare, Medicaid, or food assistance won’t be confined to Trump voters. The ripple effects will harm millions of Americans, regardless of political affiliation.

“There’ll be no comfort that some of the people crashing to the ground thought they were only voting to have that net taken from others,” Brown explained. “After all, they were told that they’d be able to fly just fine without it.”

Brown’s piece serves as a reminder that while the urge to mock political opponents may be strong, the human cost of sweeping policy changes outweighs the satisfaction of a smug “I told you so.” For those on the left, he suggests that empathy and a focus on minimizing harm might be more constructive responses to this moment of uncertainty.

As Trump prepares to re-enter the White House, the columnist warns against celebrating the misfortune of others, noting that such suffering will not remain confined to those who supported him. Instead, it highlights the shared vulnerability of all Americans under policies that dismantle the social safety net.