CNN host Abby Phillip recently took to her platform to criticize House Democrats for their participation in a viral TikTok trend titled “Choose Your Fighter,” which sought to highlight their personalities and achievements. The video, intended to mimic classic video game character selection screens, was met with mockery and skepticism for its arguably frivolous nature in the face of serious national issues.
Phillip expressed her disbelief at the choice to create such content, questioning the necessity of engaging in what she described as an activity that could only invite ridicule amid the country’s pressing concerns. “I don’t even know where to begin. I’m not sure why this is necessary. I mean, there is, like, serious stuff happening in this country, but that seems to be just inviting ridicule,” Phillip remarked.
The video was orchestrated by TikTok influencer Sulhee Jessica Woo and featured Democratic Representatives such as Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Jasmine Crockett, Lauren Underwood, Katherine Clark, Judy Chu, and Susie Lee. Each participant presented themselves with a title and a list of skills designed to engage a broader audience. Ocasio-Cortez was identified as the “youngest woman and Latina elected to the House,” with the quirky addition of “Trekkie” among her abilities. Crockett acknowledged, somewhat self-deprecatingly, her tardiness by admitting she’s “not a morning person.” Representative Clark humorously added that she’s “not into hair dye,” and Lee noted her experience with “2 sprained fingers” as part of her personal highlights.
Despite circulating widely on social media platforms, the video was described as performative and “cringe” by commentators across the political spectrum. Panelist Rep. Marilyn Strickland from Washington labeled it as a “lighthearted” and “creative” approach to reaching newer audience demographics. However, Phillip remained unconvinced, continuing to press for the purpose behind the venture, asking pointedly, “I guess my question is to what end? I don’t get it. Like, I don’t get it. I mean, maybe you will get 7 million eyeballs. But like what is the point?”
Joining the critique, conservative panelist Scott Jennings judged the video harshly, saying it was the “dumbest thing” he’d “ever seen.” Jennings amplified his critique by suggesting that scrambling to employ new social media strategies did not compensate for the lack of actual problem-solving, alluding to the Democratic Party’s unimpressive 21 percent Congressional approval rating. “Scrambling for new social media and communication strategies is not a replacement for fixing what’s actually wrong. Your party has a 21 percent approval rating right now, Congressional Democrats,” he commented.
Despite the Democratic attempt to engage in innovative digital outreach, the video has sparked a broader debate about the effectiveness and propriety of such tactics during a time when many Americans are concerned with more substantive matters. In contrast, proponents of current President Donald Trump view efforts to cleverly market Democratic figures on social media with skepticism, emphasizing persistent focus on pragmatic solutions over performative gestures.