Campaign

Sharpton: Democrats want a ‘fighter’ to take on Trump amid 2028 speculation

Comments:

by Sarah Davis - 04/18/26 11:11 AM ET

Comments:

Link copied

by Sarah Davis - 04/18/26 11:11 AM ET

Comments:

Link copied

NOW PLAYING

Civil rights leader Rev. Al Sharpton said that Democrats want “a fighter” to lead the party in the 2028 presidential election.

“They want somebody that will get in the ring and say, ‘You knock me out or I’ll knock you out, Donald Trump,’” Sharpton told MS NOW’s Nicolle Wallace on Friday.

“And that’s what they want because he’s upended everything this country’s morally stood for,” Sharpton continued. “He’s a felon arguing with the Pope and had his secretary of war misquoting the Bible. What else do you need to say? Who’s going to stand up and fight this guy toe to toe? And I think that’s — you’re right. I think that’s what America is waiting for. Who will step up?”

Sharpton recently engaged in public discussions with several potential 2028 contenders at his National Action Network (NAN) Convention earlier this month. The event drew crowds of Black voters, a critical voting bloc for the Democratic Party.

Several former presidential candidates were present at the event, including Former Vice President Kamala Harris and former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. Other prominent Democrats such as Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, California Rep. Ro Khanna, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro and Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker also spoke at the convention.

Sharpton said that Harris and Moore stood out among this crowd of possible Democratic candidates. Neither politician has officially declared their candidacy, but they have each hinted at the possibility.

Harris, who lost to President Trump in the 2024 election, said she is “thinking about” another presidential run.

“I’ll keep you posted,” she told Sharpton at the conference.

Moore, who previously ruled out a 2028 presidential run, softened his opposition to the idea during his NAN appearance. He insisted Democrats focus on winning the midterms first.

“I tell people, I’m hungry but I’m not thirsty,” Moore said. “Show me something now. Show me you are a winter soldier and not a summer soldier. Show me, and then we can have a conversation with everyone else about what is it that you’re planning on doing in the future.”

Add as preferred source on Google