‘Your Questions Aren’t That Great’: Rahm Emanuel Gets Testy With Interviewer Over ‘Stupid Question’

Former White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel described himself as a “raging moderate” while in conversation with Politico’s Jonathan Martin an interview released Tuesday.

Emanuel, who is considering running for president in 2028, said the “problem with the whole moderate label is you all assume it’s toned down.”

“Finding agreement across party lines does not make you a weak person,” he continued. Martin asserted that Emanuel is “one of the few Democrats looking at ’28” who refer to themselves as moderates, and asked if former Vice President Kamala Harris should run for president again.

Emanuel didn’t appear interested in engaging on the topic. “John, this is in all due respect, I created free community college, first city. Is that a moderate or a progressive position?”

Martin erupted. “Now you’re back off, man. You were so brave saying you’re a moderate. Now you’re trying to get off the hook.”

Emanuel insisted he was only trying to help Martin “be a better journalist … because your questions aren’t that great.”

“Number two, I created universal kindergarten, universal pre-k. Was that moderate or progressive? I think it’s actually a stupid question, and you know why I think it’s a stupid question? Because I don’t think the labels apply, and I think it’s old thinking,” he added.

Emanuel, who was Mayor of Chicago from 2011 to 2019, has fueled speculation for months that he will launch a presidential bid ahead of the 2028 election. In June he rode 113 miles across the state of New Hampshire, ostensibly to raise money for bicycles for children. But as ABC reported at the time, the trip also “raised awareness about his interest in a potential presidential campaign in the next political cycle.”

“You don’t have to be a political analyst to recognize that when a guy takes a takes a bicycle ride through New Hampshire and does five town hall meetings, that there’s something on his mind,” Democratic strategist David Axelrod said told ABC.

Last week Emanuel sparred with The New Yorker editor David Remnick when he insisted Democrats have made political errors by focusing on trans rights. “You have to prioritize what’s an A and a B [issue],” he said. “I’m gonna make sure children feel accepted, and the best way to make sure they feel accepted is they know reading, math, and high school graduation [are essential].”

Watch the above via Politico.

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