Democrat Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) openly criticized the Democratic Party for lacking a “vision for the future” during an interview on NBC’s Meet The Press with moderator Kristen Welker.
The comments came as Sanders discussed his ongoing “Fighting Oligarchy Tour” alongside Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), fueling speculation about whether he might attempt to break away from the Democratic Party after two failed presidential runs.
“What Democrats lack right now is a vision for the future,” Sanders said. “How are we going to provide a decent standard of living for a younger generation, which, everything being equal, will be poorer than their parents? How do we repair a broken healthcare system? How do we raise the minimum wage to a living wage? How do we deal with a corrupt campaign finance system that allows billionaires to control both political parties?”
He added: “Those are some of the issues that need to be discussed. And we’re going out around the country right now asking people – working people, run for office. They want to run as a Democrat? Great. They want to run as an independent? That’s great. But you got to get involved in the political process, because right now, the two party system is failing the working class of this country.”
“No, we’re not trying to start a third party,” Sanders insisted. “What we’re trying to do is strengthen American democracy, where faith in both the Democratic and Republican parties right now is extremely low.”
Sanders acknowledged that Democrats are “appropriately” raising alarms about President Donald Trump’s alleged “movement toward authoritarianism.” He also criticized Republican initiatives like the reconciliation bill and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) under Elon Musk.
The Vermont senator also took aim at his own colleagues, responding to Michigan Democrat Sen. Elissa Slotkin’s recent comments, reported by POLITICO, that Democrats should stop hammering on the idea of “oligarchy” because it doesn’t connect with mainstream Americans.
“I think the American people are not quite as dumb as Ms. Slotkin thinks they are,” Sanders said sharply. “They understand very well, when the top 1% owns more wealth than the bottom 90%, and when big money controls both political parties, they are living in an oligarchy.”
Sanders’ remarks highlight the ongoing civil war within the Democratic Party, as its far-left base continues to push economic populism while more moderate voices fear alienating voters ahead of 2028.
