Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) delivered an impassioned and militant address on Saturday in Washington, D.C. at the nationwide “No Kings” rallies, aimed to denounce what demonstrators referred to as the pernicious spread of authoritarianism under the presidency of Donald Trump.
The veteran progressive leader — long known for his outspoken stance against corporate greed and economic inequality — accused a small circle of billionaires of “hijacking America’s economy and democracy” for their personal gain.
“The Founders Fought Against Kings — and Now We’re Letting Them Return”
Sanders started by reminding the audience that America was founded on values that opposed tyranny and absolute power. He quoted George Washington saying that America was meant to be “an experiment placed in the hands of the American people.”
“That experiment,” Sanders said, “is now in jeopardy.”.
He criticized President Trump for, in his own words, “putting this experiment at risk by his glaring disregard for the Constitution, his militarization of domestic issues, and his assault on democratic norms.”
However, Sanders proclaimed that Trump was “not the cause but a symptom of a more fundamental crisis.”.
This is not a story of one man’s corruption or greed,” he stated. “This is the story of a handful of the wealthiest people on the planet who, in their obsessive quest for profit, have taken over our economy and political system — enriching themselves at America’s working families’ expense.”
Musk, Bezos, Zuckerberg Named in Scathing Attack
Sanders did not hesitate to call names. He directly identified Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, and Mark Zuckerberg, accusing them of using their huge wealth to decide policy, expand their power, and fund Trump’s presidency.
Recall who was seated behind Trump when he got inaugurated?” Sanders questioned the group of supporters. “Those very same billionaires who funded his campaign, granted him favors, and saw their pockets grow while wages stagnated and healthcare was unraveled.”.
He cited the $250 million contribution Musk made to Trump’s reelection campaign, only to be rewarded with Musk as head of the divisive Department of Government Efficiency — an entity that went on to abolish a number of regulatory agencies that monitored his companies.
Concurrently, Sanders quoted Bezos and Zuckerberg, who once appeared to be taking a shot at Trump but have since transitioned to more cooperative relationships. Amazon, he stated, donated $1 million to Trump’s inaugural committee, and Zuckerberg reportedly met with Trump at Mar-a-Lago after his re-election.
Sanders went on to add that even Google’s Sundar Pichai and Apple’s Tim Cook, who both showed up to Trump’s inauguration, have also become chummy with the administration, with Cook recently presenting Trump with a gift after revealing a lucrative government contract.
“AI for Profit, Not for People”
Coming to the GOP’s recent budget policies, Sanders denounced the party’s “big, beautiful” budget bill that calls for drastic cuts in Medicaid and allocates corporate tax breaks to big tech firms investing billions of dollars in artificial intelligence.
“While millions of Americans are losing access to healthcare, the same tech industry giants are investing hundreds of billions in AI technology that will put tens of millions of people out of work over the next decade,” Sanders cautioned.
He aimed at Musk once more, mentioning his record-breaking net value and growing influence. “Elon Musk is going to be a trillionaire,” Sanders stated. “And yet, in the richest country in world history, families can’t even pay for an office visit with a doctor. That’s an embarrassment to our nation.”
Call to End Government Shutdown
Before he left the stage, Sanders spoke to the continuing government shutdown, which enters its fourth week as it is fueled by partisan impasse.
“So today I want to say to my Republican colleagues — come back from your month-long recess,” he said. “Start negotiating. Don’t destroy what’s left of the American healthcare system. End this shutdown and start serving the people who put you in office.”
A Growing Movement Against ‘Modern Oligarchy
The “No Kings” protests — now in more than 30 U.S. cities — have drawn tens of thousands of members from unions, civil rights groups and youth groups. The movement is drawing on some of the same themes of Sanders‘ earlier “Fighting Oligarchy” tour with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), including growing national anger at concentrated wealth and corporate power.
As “Power to the people!” rang out across Washington’s streets, Sanders left the stage with his usual battle cry:
“Our democracy will not be sold to billionaires. The American people will fight back — and we will win.”
