President Donald Trump launched a blistering attack on CNN political analyst Van Jones Monday, accusing him of ingratitude after the two worked together on criminal justice reform during Trump's first term. The former president took to Truth Social to vent his frustration over Jones repeatedly calling him a “dictator” on air.
“I liked some of the people he was with, agreed with what they were saying, and quickly rounded up the votes needed to get CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM approved. It was NOT easy!” Trump wrote. He added, “Nobody else, including Obama, who tried to for years, could have done this! Now I watch this guy, Van Jones, every chance he gets, calling me a ‘Dictator,’ and far worse. He should be ashamed of himself!!!”
The spat revives a long-simmering tension between Trump and Jones, who partnered on the 2018 First Step Act. That bipartisan law aimed to reduce recidivism, overhaul federal sentencing guidelines, and improve prison conditions. Trump has previously complained that Jones never thanked him for shepherding the legislation through Congress.
“I got it done, with Conservative help, and this lowlife, Jones, never once called to thank me, or the others that helped, for what we had done,” Trump wrote in a separate Truth Social post during the 2024 campaign. He also touted his record on Opportunity Zones and funding for historically Black colleges and universities, claiming, “I’ve done more for our black population than anyone other than, perhaps, Abraham Lincoln!!! Sorry, but that’s the way it is!!!”
Trump’s broadside comes as he continues to feud with critics over his record. The former president has also taken aim at Democrats, recently calling for House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries' impeachment over remarks about the Supreme Court. Meanwhile, Jones has fired back, accusing Trump of being “freaked out” by Vice President Kamala Harris’s rising popularity and predicting he will “keep falling” if he “continues to throw fits.”
The exchange underscores the fragile nature of political alliances in Washington. While Trump and Jones once found common ground on criminal justice reform, their relationship has soured as Jones has become a vocal critic of Trump’s rhetoric and policies. For Trump, the attack serves as a reminder of his legislative wins and a warning to those he believes have not shown proper deference.
