SUBSCRIBE TO OUR FREE NEWSLETTER
Daily news & progressive opinion—funded by the people, not the corporations—delivered straight to your inbox.
5
#000000
#FFFFFF
5
#000000
#FFFFFF
U.S. Sen Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) listens as Linda McMahon, President Donald Trump's nominee to be secretary of education, testifies during her confirmation hearing in the Dirksen Senate Office Building on February 13, 2025.
(Photo: Win McNamee/Getty Images)
Sanders Has a Message for Working-Class Trump Supporters: 'They're Going After You'
"Focus not on what Trump says, but on what he does," said the senator from Vermont.
Feb 18, 2025
Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, an independent who caucuses with Democrats, has multiple messages for supporters of U.S. President Donald Trump.
For one, "focus not on what Trump says, but on what he does," Sanders said in a clip of an interview that he posted on the platform X on Tuesday. Sanders also said that supporting billionaire Elon Musk's attacks on the federal government is incompatible with being an "honest conservative" and believing in the U.S. Constitution.
"If you are an honest conservative [and] you believe in the Constitution of the United States, you do not believe that the richest guy in modern history can go around unilaterally cutting programs that were authorized by Congress," he said.
Musk, who was tapped to lead the Department of Government Efficiency by Trump, has helped carry out a broadside against multiple federal agencies with the aim of slashing spending and personnel. Efforts by DOGE to infiltrate federal agencies have been met with multiple lawsuits, though a federal judge on Tuesday decided not to block Musk and DOGE from accessing federal data systems at several executive branch agencies, in a blow to a legal effort brought by a group of Democratic state attorneys general.
What's more, Sanders said, Trump is going to "cut programs that you and your families need... Your families may not be able to get the healthcare that they need. Your mother may not be able to get into the nursing home that she has to get into because Medicaid pays a substantial part of that."
Last week, House Republicans unveiled a draft budget resolution on that calls for $4.5 trillion in tax breaks that would disproportionately benefit the wealthy, which if enacted would likely be offset by steep cuts to Medicaid, food assistance, and other programs.
In sum, "if you're a Trump supporter and you're a working-class person, understand that they're going after you," Sanders concluded.
Why Your Ongoing Support Is Essential
Donald Trump’s attacks on democracy, justice, and a free press are escalating — putting everything we stand for at risk. We believe a better world is possible, but we can’t get there without your support. Common Dreams stands apart. We answer only to you — our readers, activists, and changemakers — not to billionaires or corporations. Our independence allows us to cover the vital stories that others won’t, spotlighting movements for peace, equality, and human rights. Right now, our work faces unprecedented challenges. Misinformation is spreading, journalists are under attack, and financial pressures are mounting. As a reader-supported, nonprofit newsroom, your support is crucial to keep this journalism alive. Whatever you can give — $10, $25, or $100 — helps us stay strong and responsive when the world needs us most. Together, we’ll continue to build the independent, courageous journalism our movement relies on. Thank you for being part of this community. |
Our work is licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0). Feel free to republish and share widely.
bernie sandersdemocratic partydemocratsdepartment of government efficiencydogedonald trumpelon muskhealthcarehouse republicansmedicaidus constitutionworkers
Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, an independent who caucuses with Democrats, has multiple messages for supporters of U.S. President Donald Trump.
For one, "focus not on what Trump says, but on what he does," Sanders said in a clip of an interview that he posted on the platform X on Tuesday. Sanders also said that supporting billionaire Elon Musk's attacks on the federal government is incompatible with being an "honest conservative" and believing in the U.S. Constitution.
"If you are an honest conservative [and] you believe in the Constitution of the United States, you do not believe that the richest guy in modern history can go around unilaterally cutting programs that were authorized by Congress," he said.
Musk, who was tapped to lead the Department of Government Efficiency by Trump, has helped carry out a broadside against multiple federal agencies with the aim of slashing spending and personnel. Efforts by DOGE to infiltrate federal agencies have been met with multiple lawsuits, though a federal judge on Tuesday decided not to block Musk and DOGE from accessing federal data systems at several executive branch agencies, in a blow to a legal effort brought by a group of Democratic state attorneys general.
What's more, Sanders said, Trump is going to "cut programs that you and your families need... Your families may not be able to get the healthcare that they need. Your mother may not be able to get into the nursing home that she has to get into because Medicaid pays a substantial part of that."
Last week, House Republicans unveiled a draft budget resolution on that calls for $4.5 trillion in tax breaks that would disproportionately benefit the wealthy, which if enacted would likely be offset by steep cuts to Medicaid, food assistance, and other programs.
In sum, "if you're a Trump supporter and you're a working-class person, understand that they're going after you," Sanders concluded.
Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, an independent who caucuses with Democrats, has multiple messages for supporters of U.S. President Donald Trump.
For one, "focus not on what Trump says, but on what he does," Sanders said in a clip of an interview that he posted on the platform X on Tuesday. Sanders also said that supporting billionaire Elon Musk's attacks on the federal government is incompatible with being an "honest conservative" and believing in the U.S. Constitution.
"If you are an honest conservative [and] you believe in the Constitution of the United States, you do not believe that the richest guy in modern history can go around unilaterally cutting programs that were authorized by Congress," he said.
Musk, who was tapped to lead the Department of Government Efficiency by Trump, has helped carry out a broadside against multiple federal agencies with the aim of slashing spending and personnel. Efforts by DOGE to infiltrate federal agencies have been met with multiple lawsuits, though a federal judge on Tuesday decided not to block Musk and DOGE from accessing federal data systems at several executive branch agencies, in a blow to a legal effort brought by a group of Democratic state attorneys general.
What's more, Sanders said, Trump is going to "cut programs that you and your families need... Your families may not be able to get the healthcare that they need. Your mother may not be able to get into the nursing home that she has to get into because Medicaid pays a substantial part of that."
Last week, House Republicans unveiled a draft budget resolution on that calls for $4.5 trillion in tax breaks that would disproportionately benefit the wealthy, which if enacted would likely be offset by steep cuts to Medicaid, food assistance, and other programs.
In sum, "if you're a Trump supporter and you're a working-class person, understand that they're going after you," Sanders concluded.
We've had enough. The 1% own and operate the corporate media. They are doing everything they can to defend the status quo, squash dissent and protect the wealthy and the powerful. The Common Dreams media model is different. We cover the news that matters to the 99%. Our mission? To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. How? Nonprofit. Independent. Reader-supported. Free to read. Free to republish. Free to share. With no advertising. No paywalls. No selling of your data. Thousands of small donations fund our newsroom and allow us to continue publishing. Can you chip in? We can't do it without you. Thank you.