Tom Emmer, the House Majority Whip for Republicans, called some Democratic candidates “communists” during an interview with ABC’s Jon Karl on “This Week.” When Karl challenged Emmer by saying there aren't many communists running in midterms, Emmer insisted that Democrats are indeed communists and criticized their proposed policies such as defunding the police, prisons, and supporting government-only healthcare. Earlier in the same interview, Emmer accused mainstream media of bias in reporting inflation and gas prices differently under former President Donald Trump compared to President Joe Biden.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-12,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
During an appearance on ABC's "This Week" on Sunday, House Majority Whip Tom Emmer accused Democrats of being communists in response to host Jon Karl’s comment that there aren’t many communists running for office this midterm. When Karl challenged Emmer by saying most Democrats wouldn't identify themselves as communists and noted the presence of some Democratic socialists on the ballot, Emmer insisted that calling them "Democratic socialists" was a deliberate attempt to avoid labeling their ideology correctly.
Emmer argued that Democrats have historically avoided using terms like socialist or communist due to negative public perception but now openly embrace these labels. He encouraged Karl and viewers to review the platform of the Democratic Socialists of America, implying it aligns with Marxist principles, thereby furthering his claim about the ideological direction of Democrats in this midterm election cycle.
Written for “Tom Emmer Midterm Debate” on 2026-10-12,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, R-Minn., pushed back against ABC's "This Week" host Jon Karl after he insisted "there aren’t a lot of communists on the ballot" Sunday.
asserted
he → push → ballot
The clash began after Emmer conceded the Republican Party needed to make an effort to lower gas prices ahead of the midterm elections.
asserted
Party → begin → elections
"I would say this on that, $4 gas, $6 diesel, entirely unacceptable," Emmer said.
asserted
Emmer → say → that
"We Republicans agree on that.
asserted
We → agree → that
But it’s not enough to vote for communists.
asserted
it → ’ → communists
"I think most Democrats would say they’re not communists," Karl replied with a chuckle.
asserted
Karl → think → chuckle
"
"Well you’re wrong, they are communists," Emmer interrupted.
asserted
Emmer → ’re → ?
Karl conceded that there were "some Democratic socialists" on the ballot and attempted to move on to a new topic, but Emmer rejected the idea.
asserted
Emmer → concede → idea
"Jon, you just called them what they want you to call them.
asserted
you → call → them
For 100 years, they wanted us to call them progressives, when, in fact, they were socialists.
asserted
they → want → fact
And it wasn’t cool to admit you’re a socialist.
asserted
you → admit → ?
Take a look at the [Democratic Socialists of America] platform," Emmer said.
asserted
Emmer → take → platform
Karl again attempted to change topics, but Emmer continued.
"
asserted
Emmer → attempt → topics
They want to defund the police.
asserted
They → want → police
They want to defund prisons.
asserted
They → want → prisons
They want government-only health care.
asserted
They → want → care
And they want the Green New Deal, which will cost every American family another $355,000.
asserted
which → want → 355,000
That’s what we should be talking about," Emmer said.
asserted
Emmer → ’ → what
Earlier in the interview, Emmer also criticized mainstream media for framing inflation and high gas prices under President Donald Trump differently from how they reported them under former President Joe Biden.
asserted
they → criticize → Biden
"I hate to point the finger at you and the other journalists, but have you reported that under Joe Biden, the average was over $5 a gallon?
asserted
average → hate → Biden
Under Donald Trump, he’s pulled it all the way back, even with the action that had to be taken to make sure that Iran never has a nuclear weapon.
asserted
Iran → pull → weapon
It’s closer to $4.
asserted
It → ’ → 4
It’s about 13 percent below what Joe Biden had.
asserted
Biden → ’ → what
Under Donald Trump, it’s two percent.
asserted
it → ’ → Trump
It’s 11 points better.
asserted
It → ’ → ?
But you guys don’t report this stuff.
asserted
guys → report → stuff
So, I’m not saying the American people don’t get it.
asserted
people → say → it
They don’t get the truth from the people that are reporting it," Emmer said.
asserted
Emmer → get → it
Fox News Digital reached out to Emmer and ABC News for comment.
asserted
Digital → reach → comment
Emmer made similar comments in an interview with Fox News Digital last week when he accused the far-left wing of the Democratic Party of being "communists, Marxists and anarchists."
asserted
he → make → Party
He especially took issue with Democratic Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed, though he has denied being a socialist.
asserted
he → take → Sayed
"This guy says ridiculous things like U.S. NFL football is an example of toxic masculinity, he supports a terrorist who believes that America deserved to lose 3,000 people on 9/11, and he's got this Piker guy who's just shooting his mouth off on everything anti-American
asserted
who → say → everything
," Emmer said.
asserted
Emmer → say → ?
Emmer's comments come as dozens of Democratic Socialists of America-backed candidates run for office during the midterm elections.
asserted
dozens → come → elections
The Aporia
