Bernie Sanders incurred over $550K in private jet expenses in 2025, according to filings.

Bernie Sanders’s Private Jet Spending Revealed

Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), known for his “War on Oligarchy” tour alongside Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), has reportedly spent over $550,000 in campaign funds for private jet travel in 2025, according to an investigation of Federal Election Commission (FEC) filings.

The majority of this expenditure is expected to take place in the first half of the year, coinciding with the height of their national tour.

In April, during their tour, exclusive images captured Sanders boarding a private Bombardier Challenger jet at Meadows Field Airport in Bakersfield, California. Reports also indicated that a New York congressman was present on the same flight.

Subsequent footage revealed Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez disembarking near Sacramento, just before a Democratic Socialist rally was set to take place later that evening.

AOC’s Campaign Spending Scrutinized

The Bombardier Challenger private jet, operated by Ventura Air Service, boasts a spacious cabin designed for passenger comfort. According to the company’s website, private jet rentals can reach $15,000 per hour.

Sanders’s FEC filings show he allocated at least $354,000 for private jet services from Ventura Jets in 2025 alone. Other private jet firms like NJet and Cirrus Aviation Services have also received campaign funding.

N-Jet claims to offer a “personal touch” that prioritizes luxury and safety for clients.

Despite being a strong advocate for the Green New Deal and labeling climate change as an “existential threat,” Sanders defended his private jet use during an interview last year, stating, “It’s the only way I get around.” He emphasized the demands of a campaign, noting, “When you run a campaign, you have three, four, five rallies a week. It’s the only way to talk to 30,000 people.” He argued that waiting in line for commercial flights is impractical for addressing large crowds.

Concerns Over Campaign Spending

Sanders has consistently relied on private jets during campaigns. In the 2020 presidential race, his campaign expenditures exceeded $1.9 million for private jet services from various companies.

Environmental activists, including Ocasio-Cortez, have criticized the use of private jets, noting that they can pollute up to fourteen times more than commercial planes. Ocasio-Cortez once expressed outrage at the luxury travel of CEOs, stating, “It’s insatiable. It’s unacceptable.”

Sanders’s office was contacted for comments regarding his spending but did not respond promptly.

Critics highlighted the irony in the situation, pointing out the perceived hypocrisy of advocating for climate action while utilizing private jets. Matt Gorman, a communications consultant, remarked, “There are no greater hypocrites than liberals who fly on private jets while criticizing us for eating meat and using gas stoves.”

In addition to the significant private jet expenses, Ocasio-Cortez’s campaign has also spent considerable funds on luxury accommodations during their tour, including over $53,000 in 2025 alone.

For instance, one hotel stay at the Leo Kent Hotel in Tucson cost $3,165.76 around the time of their rally. Ocasio-Cortez’s campaign has also secured several high-end hotel bookings in various cities for the year.