Sanders Critiques Trump Amid Government Shutdown
Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) acknowledged President Trump’s political skills, while still holding on to his prior criticisms of him. On CNN, he stated, “It’s clear that this shutdown must be completed as soon as possible.” However, he emphasized that Trump needs to confront the healthcare crisis resulting from his significant legislation, which Sanders referred to as the “big beautiful bill.”
“Trump may be erratic, and he may not always tell the truth, but he’s an effective politician,” Sanders noted in his discussion with Collins. He observed that Trump is likely aware of the same polling data he has seen, highlighting that many Americans are struggling to afford medical care at the moment.
Sanders continued, “And you, Trump, want to double health insurance premiums for over 20 million people. You want to leave 15 million Americans without the healthcare they need. You are harming a broken healthcare system, and you might not recover from that decision. I think Trump understands that Republicans are conscious of this issue as well.”
The senator did not hold back in criticizing House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), expressing hope that Johnson would refrain from giving his members breaks during this critical time. “They’re not here,” Sanders remarked. “That’s quite pathetic.”
On Monday, Trump used his social media platform, Truth Social, to announce his willingness to collaborate with Congressional Democrats on their healthcare policies, but he insisted that they must first allow the government to reopen.
The current government shutdown was initiated after Senate Republicans and Democrats failed to come to an agreement on funding, particularly as Democrats sought an extension of Affordable Care Act (ACA) grants that are set to expire at the end of 2025.
Last Wednesday, Sanders joined his close political ally, Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), in an online video where they discussed their voting decisions related to the government shutdown. They brought up the critical issue of ACA premium subsidies, which have significantly impacted their voting strategy.
“When we’re already spending the highest prices on healthcare in the world, how can people afford it now?” Sanders asked Ocasio-Cortez. “What does that lead to?”
“It means people facing chemotherapy could go bankrupt and can’t access insulin,” Ocasio-Cortez replied.
