James Carville slams CNN host for likening Democrats to January 6 rioters: 'I am not a criminal'

WASHINGTON, DC: Democratic strategist James Carville pushed back hard after CNN host Michael Smerconish compared his anti-Trump election strategy to the mindset behind the January 6 Capitol riot.

The heated exchange unfolded on Saturday, May 30, during a debate over Democratic support for Graham Platner, a candidate challenging Republican Sen Susan Collins in Maine. Smerconish accused Democrats of ignoring Platner’s controversial past simply because he opposes President Donald Trump.

CNN host clashes with James Carville 

Smerconish pointed to resurfaced Reddit posts involving veterans and Platner’s previously reported Nazi-linked tattoo while arguing Democrats have a “blindspot” when it comes to candidates who can help defeat Republicans.

Carville acknowledged the controversy but made clear where he stands politically.

Michael Smerconish later clarified that he was criticizing James Carville’s willingness to align with 'anybody who’s on your team' against Trump because 'the stakes are so high' (X @smerconish)

“I’ll never get a tattoo because I always changed my mind about things. But I think if you ask me, has he said some things that are highly controversial? Yes,” Carville said.

He then doubled down on his broader political goal. “But what is the most important thing to do in America? And that is to oppose Trump as vigorously as possible at every level,” Carville added. “And the most important tool we have at our disposal is to win elections. Therefore, I don’t know what supersedes that. I just don’t.”

That prompted Smerconish to compare Carville’s mindset to people involved in the January 6 Capitol attack.

“Okay, to me, respectfully, it’s the same mindset that explains people who breached the Capitol on January 6th,” Smerconish said. “I mean, they were similarly warped in their thinking that it’s all on the line.”

James Carville says he is not a criminal

“I completely disagree with the premise. Voting for Graham Platner is not a felony,” Carville argued. “Breaking into the Capitol is a felony, and when you want to defend the objectivity so much that you’re comparing people voting for a flawed person and assaulting police officers.”

Smerconish later clarified that he was criticizing Carville’s willingness to align with “anybody who’s on your team” against Trump because “the stakes are so high.”

But Carville did not back down. “Well, again, I might have Trump Derangement Syndrome, but I am not a criminal, okay?” he shot back. “I’ll agree with that and I think my preference is Democrats at every point nominate the most electable person.

Carville ended the exchange by once again stressing how strongly he views the political stakes surrounding Trump.

“I think we’re going to have a good year, but I can’t apologize for that which I profoundly and deeply believe,” he said. “We are being led by a person who, if not a traitor himself, is doing exactly everything that a traitor would do if they got in a job.”