Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) is stepping up his criticism of President Donald Trump, saying the former president lacks the public support he claims to have. In a tweet on March 24, Sanders reminded Americans that Trump lost the popular vote in 2020 by a wide margin.
“Trump likes to talk about his ‘mandate.’ Really?” Sanders wrote. “He got 4 million fewer votes than Biden in 2020, and the only president with a lower approval rating at this point in his presidency was Trump in his 1st term. Trump has no mandate to move us to oligarchy or authoritarianism.”
Sanders and AOC Call for a Stronger Democratic Party
Sanders, along with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), has been holding rallies across the western U.S. as part of their “Fighting Oligarchy” tour. At events in Nevada and Arizona, both lawmakers called on Democrats to take a stronger stand against Trump and support policies that prioritize working-class Americans.
“This isn’t just about Republicans. We need a Democratic Party that fights harder for us, too,” Ocasio-Cortez told a crowd in Las Vegas. She urged voters to support candidates who are willing to stand up for working people.
Crowds at the rallies were vocal, with chants of “Primary Chuck” breaking out in reference to Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), who has faced backlash for backing a funding bill supported by Trump. Ocasio-Cortez has publicly criticized Schumer’s move, calling it a “betrayal.”
The tour has drawn thousands, including many frustrated Democratic voters who say the party hasn’t done enough to push back on Trump’s agenda.
‘A Constitutional Crisis’
In an interview after an event, Sanders said Trump is pushing the country “very rapidly toward an authoritarian form of society.” He pointed to Trump’s attempts to dismantle federal agencies without congressional approval, such as a recent executive order targeting the Department of Education.
“So yes, I think we are in the midst of the constitutional crisis,” Sanders said.
He also criticized the Democratic Party’s overall lack of grassroots organization, saying too many leaders are disconnected from everyday Americans. “The problem is the Democratic Party has no grassroots,” he said, gesturing to the overflow crowd in Tempe, Arizona. “You tell me how many people are going out?”
Despite his criticism, Sanders has not called for Schumer to step down and brushed off questions about whether Ocasio-Cortez should challenge him in 2028. Still, there was plenty of speculation among rallygoers, some of whom wore “AOC 2028” pins.
‘A Government of the Billionaire Class’
Sanders warned that billionaire donors, like Elon Musk, are having too much influence over national policy. Musk reportedly donated nearly $300 million to help elect Trump and other Republicans in 2024.
“You’ve gotta be kind of blind not to understand that you have a government of the billionaire class, for the billionaire class, by the billionaire class,” Sanders said.
He argued that both parties have let working-class Americans down but believes there’s a growing movement demanding change. “They’ve got to start addressing the needs of working-class people,” Sanders said, and according to him, some of his colleagues are starting to see that.
Although Sanders has ruled out another run for president, he said new progressive leaders are rising. “There are dozens and dozens of really strong progressives out there who are, I think, going to be the future political leaders.”
For now, he and Ocasio-Cortez are focusing on energizing voters and sending a message: Trump doesn’t have a mandate, and the fight for working Americans is far from over.
IMAGE CREDIT: “Bernie Sanders” by Gage Skidmore, via Flickr. Licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0. Image adjusted for layout.