Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), the man who did everything he could to defeat Hillary Clinton in the Democratic primary before doing everything he could to defeat Donald Trump in the general election, finally reacted to Tuesday's presidential result in a short statement Wednesday evening.
"To the degree that [President-elect Trump] pursues racist, sexist, xenophobic and anti-environment policies," said Sanders, "we will vigorously oppose him."
—Sen. Bernie Sanders"Donald Trump tapped into the anger of a declining middle class that is sick and tired of establishment economics, establishment politics and the establishment media," the statement read. "People are tired of working longer hours for lower wages, of seeing decent paying jobs go to China and other low-wage countries, of billionaires not paying any federal income taxes and of not being able to afford a college education for their kids - all while the very rich become much richer."
The statement came as people in cities across the United States took to the streets to voice their anger and despair following Trump's victory.
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Though Sanders consistently polled better than Clinton against Trump during head-to-head match-ups during the primary season, Clinton ultimately defeated Sanders to win the Democratic nomination. However, after accepting the loss and endorsing Clinton, Sanders repeatedly and urgently told voters that Trump represented an existential threat that must be resoundingly rejected on election day.
And while Sanders indicated he would work with the Trump administration if and when it proposes policies that would actually "improve the lives of working families in this country," he made clear—just as he vowed to hold Clinton's feet to the fire if elected—that he, along with allied progressive forces, will be a source of aggressive opposition to all regressive and destructive policies put forth by Trump and his Republican Party.
"To the degree that he pursues racist, sexist, xenophobic and anti-environment policies," said Sanders, "we will vigorously oppose him."
