It’s quite something!
Senator Bernie Sanders, known for his socialist views, stood firm against criticism for using private jets to travel around the country during his campaign focused on the wealthy.
Sanders (D-Vt.) faced backlash after flying privately on his recent “Oligarchy” tour with New York State Senator Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, despite the ridicule it drew.
“No apologies here,” said the 83-year-old Sanders when questioned about the negative reaction. “This is how our campaign operates. We’ve done it in the past and plan to continue.” He spoke on Fox News’ Special Report late Wednesday.
He continued, explaining, “Running a campaign involves multiple meetings throughout the week. This is the only way to connect with 30,000 people.” He seemed frustrated, saying, “Do you think I’m just sitting in line at United… while 30,000 people wait?”
Recently, Sanders’ campaign reported spending over $221,000 on private jet travel in the first quarter of 2025 alone. He and Ocasio-Cortez were seen on an extravagant jet, which costs about $15,000 per hour to charter, during their tour aimed at criticizing the wealthy.
When confronted about the seeming hypocrisy of his travel choices, Sanders responded, “When was the last time you saw Donald Trump campaigning at National Airport?”
Social media reactions were swift. Comments ranged from, “Socialists are beyond parody,” to critiques about how private jet travel contradicts the message of fighting against the elite.
One user remarked, “He should at least recognize that he thinks his work is more important than the average person’s wait for a United flight.”
