Democrats are strategizing on how to counter President Trump, reclaim their political identity, and reconstruct their alliance. They are dealing with the looting of the government orchestrated by Trump and his group of wealthy oligarch associates.

Here is an idea: Democrats should be advocates for the rule of law. Upholding laws to protect consumers, employees, and small enterprises is not only the morally right thing to do but also sends a potent political message.

For years, the federal government neglected its responsibility and overlooked its authority to combat elite corruption, illicit business activities, and the manipulation of the economy. This led to justified disillusionment among people and contributed to the chaos and unrest that allowed Donald Trump to take, and retain, the Presidency.

During my tenure as chief of staff for Federal Trade Commission Chair Lina Khan, we implemented antitrust laws impartially and without hesitation. This meant pursuing companies engaging in monopolistic behavior unlawfully, irrespective of their owners’ political affiliations.

We took action against corporations like Amazon, Meta, Microsoft, Big Pharma, John Deere, and Pepsi not based on their executives’ political inclinations, but because the law mandated us to safeguard American consumers, employees, and small business proprietors.

This effort gained popularity. We engaged with workers and consumers concerned about the potential harm from the merger of Kroger and Albertsons, the top two grocery store chains.

The gatherings were sizable and bipartisan, with a palpable energy in the air. However, people did not hide their skepticism; one individual expressed gratitude for our visit but anticipated that we would return to Washington and do nothing.

But we did not sit idle. We challenged the merger, the court upheld the challenge, and recently, the CEO of one of the companies resigned.

Beyond this modest triumph for the rule of law, Trump tapped into the skepticism and sentiment that the economy is rigged, proving to be exceptionally effective. He convinced Americans that he would disrupt the elite consensus that had hollowed out towns, outsourced jobs, and shut down small to medium enterprises in favor of giant, indifferent corporations. He pledged to reinstate the government’s authority to advocate for its citizens.

Instead, his administration is loaded with oligarchs. Notable attendees at his inauguration included Jeff Bezos of Amazon, Mark Zuckerberg of Meta, Sundar Pichai of Google, Tim Cook of Apple, and Shou Zi Chew of TikTok.

Elon Musk, the richest person globally, played a significant role in the second Trump administration; a Time magazine cover last month depicted him seated at the Oval Office desk.

Under Trump, the White House has become lawless, bypassing Congress and occasionally disregarding laws altogether. The haphazard Department of Government Efficiency has already faced legal reversals by the Supreme Court.

Some voices in the Democratic Party reminisce about a time when oligarchs were more supportive of their party. They believe that the oligarchs’ money and public backing were crucial components of their party’s governing coalition, and that they should do everything to regain their favor – even allowing their businesses to operate above the law in ways no less lawless than Trump’s practices.

For instance, writer Matt Yglesias recently justified Jeff Bezos’ decision to influence the Washington Post’s editorial board as a sign of being “angry at Democrats” due to the antitrust lawsuit filed against Amazon under Khan’s leadership at the Federal Trade Commission.

Hinting that Bezos previously maintained editorial independence in the Post during the first Trump term, Yglesias subtly justified the move due to Biden appointing Khan to lead the FTC instead of rewarding Bezos “for his efforts.”

In essence, Democrats should consider exempting powerful business allies from specific laws to prevent them from taking their “business” elsewhere politically.

Last month, when asked about the 2017 tax bill, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries remarked that Democrats should have set the tax rate based on what “corporate America was requesting.”

Upon his election as Democratic National Committee chair, Ken Martin emphasized the party’s stance: “There are many good billionaires out there.”

Undoubtedly, affluent individuals trading wealth for political sway is nothing new. Democratic billionaire donor Reid Hoffman had called for Khan’s dismissal as FTC Chair last year. At the time, the FTC was probing a company co-founded by Hoffman, regarding its dealings with Microsoft, which Hoffman is a board member of.

The overwhelming public reaction to Hoffman’s attack against Khan was supportive, with many advocating for holding oligarchs accountable and enforcing laws uniformly.

This principle of equity is intrinsic to the American ethos but has been overshadowed by technocrats, money in politics, and corporate dominance over the American government.

However, Americans are not naive. While the average voter might not comprehend antitrust statutes like the Sherman Act, they witness businesses growing to such a size that they exploit consumers without repercussions. They observe that different standards apply to people depending on their connections and financial contributions.

This perception deeply angers them, enough to enact significant change at the polls for three consecutive elections.

The path forward for Democrats is not to adhere to the old approach blindly. They must demonstrate their willingness to leverage existing powerful laws crafted by Congress to foster authentic economic alterations.

Another decade of Democrats disregarding laws to prevent upsetting elite donors would only reinforce the public’s belief that the government is corrupt, ineffectual, or both.

If Democrats embody being “the party of government,” then they are most vulnerable electorally when the government is not serving its citizens effectively.

I implore upcoming candidates for office in the midterms and Democratic leaders mulling presidential bids in 2028 to heed this advice. Democrats must champion the rule of law, regardless of the oligarchs’ objections.

Governing is not about keeping a select few obscenely wealthy and influential individuals content. It is about proving to the American people that the system can function properly and that the law applies to everyone without exceptions. By challenging economic lawlessness, Democrats can show America who they stand with.

Sarah Miller formerly served as chief of staff for ex-Federal Trade Commission Chair Lina Khan.