Sen. Bernie Sanders had strong words in response to Donald Trump’s recent comments about the economy.
Trump gave himself high praise for how the U.S. economy is doing under his leadership. When he was asked what grade he’d give the economy. He responded: “A+++++.”
That comment didn’t sit well with Sanders, who posted a clip of the moment and fired back on social media. “Trump says this is an A+++++ economy. God help us if we ever get to a B or a C,” he wrote.
Sanders expanded on that point during a CNN interview, telling host Kaitlan Collins: “If this is an A+ plus plus economy, God help us if we ever get to A, B or C.”
A Disconnect With Reality?
Sanders pushed back on Trump’s claim that prices are going down.
“Right now all over this country, people are getting insurance notices that their premiums for the ACA are going to double, in some cases triple or quadruple,” he said.
He added that while Trump continues to say the economy is strong, Americans are seeing the reality in their everyday expenses.
“Trump can lie all that he wants, but when people walk into a grocery store, they see the outrageous prices they’re now paying,” Sanders said.
“When housing costs all over this country are going up, when kids can’t afford to go to college.”
Sanders noted that about 60% of Americans are living paycheck to paycheck and said, “We do have an affordability crisis.”
He argued that Trump is out of touch because of who he surrounds himself with:
“He hangs out with his billionaire friends all of the time. And I gotta admit, for his billionaire friends, he is, in fact, an A-plus president. They are getting richer and richer while tens of millions of Americans struggle to put food on the table.”
Health Care Crisis and ACA Premiums
A major part of Sanders’ criticism focused on health care. He warned that ACA premium tax credits are expiring, and if Congress doesn’t act, millions will see sharp increases in their monthly costs.
He cited an example from Vermont: “If you are 62 years of age, you and your wife in southern Vermont, and you’re making $80,000 a year, you’re not going to see a doubling in your premiums. You’re going to see a tripling or quadrupling.”
He described the situation as “a disaster,” and said many families may end up spending 40% to 50% of their income on health care.
Sanders, who has long pushed for Medicare for All, said the current system “is dominated by the insurance companies and drug companies. They want more and more money and profits. It is succeeding for them.”
He argued that the U.S. spends twice as much per capita on health care compared to other major countries, yet fails to cover everyone:
“Why are we the richest country on Earth, the only major nation not to guarantee health care to all people?”
No Endorsement in Texas Yet
During the interview, Sanders was also asked about Texas Rep. Jasmine Crockett, who recently announced her run for U.S. Senate. While Sanders acknowledged Crockett’s candidacy, he said he hasn’t endorsed anyone in the race.
“I don’t endorse anybody who doesn’t ask for endorsement,” he said, adding that another strong candidate is also running. He said it’s “premature” to make any endorsements in Texas.
He did offer his view on the state more broadly: “Texas should be, in my view, one of the most progressive states in America. It’s a working-class state. It’s a young state, strong Latino population, strong Black population.”
Sanders blamed past Democratic leadership in Texas for missed opportunities but believes things may be shifting. “I think they’re getting their act together,” he said.
JD Vance and Medicare for All
Sanders was also asked about Vice President JD Vance, who recently praised him and teased a private conversation they had early in Vance’s Senate tenure. Vance said Sanders told him something that was “a pretty good summary of my politics” but too politically risky to share.
Sanders downplayed it: “Not quite as dramatic as I think he is making it out to be. He dropped into the office early on. We had a nice chat. But I do not believe that I said anything which was quite as earth shattering as he suggests.”
As for areas where they might agree, Sanders acknowledged that Trump and some Republicans have criticized insurance company profits. But he dismissed their proposals as weak and misleading.
“He’s talking about giving people $1,000 to $2,000,” Sanders said. “Well, you know, if you end up in a hospital, you’re going to spend several hundred thousand dollars.”
Sanders continues to call for Medicare expansion to cover dental, hearing, and vision, and to ultimately guarantee health care as a right for all Americans.
“We can do that in a cost-effective way,” he said. “40% of people diagnosed with cancer will go bankrupt or deplete their savings. This is an insane, disgraceful health care system.”
His bottom line: Trump’s economy might look great for the wealthy, but for most Americans, it’s anything but an A+.
IMAGE CREDIT: “Bernie Sanders” by Gage Skidmore, via Flickr. Licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0. Image adjusted for layout.