Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) is pushing back on Donald Trump’s claim that the United States is enjoying the “greatest economy ever.”
In a post on X, Sanders called out the president’s rosy economic rhetoric, questioning, “Really? What world is he living in?”
Sanders cited stark numbers to make his case.
“60% live paycheck to paycheck. 85M are uninsured or underinsured. 800,000 are homeless. AI could replace 100M jobs,” he wrote.
“Just because the 1% is doing well doesn’t mean everyone else is.”
That 60% figure is backed by a LendingClub report from 2023, which found that a growing number of Americans, including 4 in 10 people earning over $100,000 a year, are still living paycheck to paycheck.
A PNC Bank report found that about 67% of Americans were living paycheck to paycheck in 2025, up from 63% in 2024.
Rising costs of essentials like rent, food, transportation, and healthcare are draining monthly paychecks, even for middle- and upper-income earners.
For someone earning the U.S. median income of around $4,766 a month before taxes, basic expenses can eat up more than $3,500. That leaves little room for savings or emergency spending.
While some critics point to discretionary expenses like travel or subscriptions, the report notes that only 10% of those living paycheck to paycheck blame nonessential spending as their main issue.
Most are simply trying to stay afloat amid high living costs.
Report Warns of 100 Million Jobs at Risk From AI
Sanders led a 2025 Senate HELP Committee report warning that automation and AI could wipe out nearly 100 million U.S. jobs over the next decade.
The report found that fast food workers, customer service reps, freight movers, and executive assistants are among the most vulnerable.
According to the report, more than 3 million fast food and counter service jobs, nearly 90% of that workforce, are at risk of being automated.
For customer service, freight, and assistant roles, over 80% of jobs could be replaced.
The report didn’t just forecast doom. It proposed several policy responses: a $17 minimum wage, a standardized 32-hour workweek, and taxes on corporations that replace workers with machines.
It also recommended profit-sharing mandates so workers can benefit from rising productivity.
“We do not simply need a more ‘efficient’ society,” Sanders wrote in a Fox News op-ed.
“We need a world where people live healthier, happier, and more fulfilling lives.”
The 1% Are Thriving Like Never Before
While many workers are stretched thin, the top 1% are seeing unprecedented wealth gains.
Federal Reserve data shows their total net worth reached a record $52 trillion in the second quarter of 2025.
The top 10% of Americans, those with at least $2 million in assets, now hold $113 trillion, after gaining $5 trillion in just one quarter.
They also own 87% of all corporate equities and mutual fund shares, which surged in value during the recent stock market rally.
Even the ultra-rich are growing in number.
According to Altrata, there are now more than 208,000 Americans worth $30 million or more.
That group alone accounts for 41% of the world’s ultra-wealthy population.
Top earners are also powering the economy through spending.
Data from Moody’s Analytics shows the wealthiest 10% now account for 49.2% of all consumer spending, a record high. But this also raises concerns.
“The economy is being powered in big part by the spending of the extraordinarily well-to-do, who are cheered by the surging value of their stock portfolios,” said Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody’s.
“If the richly (over) valued stock market were to stumble… they will quickly turn more cautious in their spending, posing a serious threat to the already fragile economy.”
A Tale of Two Economies
Sanders’ critique underscores a growing divide. While one part of the population is accumulating massive wealth, millions of others are unable to build basic financial security.
Inflation, job insecurity, and housing instability are weighing heavily on everyday Americans.
“Just because the 1% is doing well doesn’t mean everyone else is,” Sanders wrote.
As the 2026 election cycle heats up, that contrast is likely to remain a central issue.
IMAGE CREDIT: “Bernie Sanders” by Gage Skidmore, via Flickr. Licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0. Image adjusted for layout.