Sanders: Democrats Failed Working-Class Voters on Economics, Pushing Them to Trump

Sen. Bernie Sanders acknowledged that the Democratic Party has failed working-class Americans on economic issues, which has contributed to voters supporting President Donald Trump.

During an interview on MS NOW, Sanders pointed to the party's economic record, stating, "What I think what Trump did, again — this gets back to my view — that the Democratic Party failed working-class people on economic issues."

He added, "I think they have a lot to be proud of in terms of fighting for civil rights, for women's rights, for gay rights, for environmental stuff, but in terms of working-class issues, no, I don't think they've done a good job."

Sanders, an independent, highlighted trade agreements that he contends cost millions of American manufacturing jobs as a primary reason for working-class voters' disillusionment with the Democratic Party. "Democrats pushed through terrible trade deals, which cost us millions of good-paying manufacturing jobs, et cetera, et cetera. They lost faith in the Democratic Party, and not unjustifiably," he said.

In response to Sanders' comments, Natalie Baldassarre, national press secretary for the Republican National Committee, criticized Democratic economic policies. "Democrats can no longer claim to be the working class party when they hammer Americans with higher taxes, ship jobs overseas, and kill off the industries that make our country thrive," Baldassarre stated. "Democrats' only interest is appeasing their far-left base that wants to destroy our country from the inside out, and working families pay the price."

A 2024 Fox News Voter Analysis indicated that Trump won voters with household incomes between $50,000 and $99,999, and also secured a significant majority of voters who reported falling behind financially. Approximately 40% of voters identified inflation as the most important factor in their vote, and this group largely backed Trump.

This is not the first time Sanders has voiced concerns about the Democratic Party's relationship with the working class. Following Trump's 2024 victory, Sanders issued a statement saying, "It should come as no great surprise that a Democratic Party which has abandoned working-class people would find that the working class has abandoned them. First, it was the white working class, and now it is Latino and Black workers as well."

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who also appeared in the interview, emphasized the increasing significance of economic class in American politics. She argued that as the gap between the wealthy and the working class widens, and the middle class diminishes, more Americans across party lines are finding resonance with progressive policies addressing corruption and fighting for working-class issues. "A lot of what Bernie's been talking about forever, where I come from as well, in really forcefully taking on the corruption of corporate lobbying and fighting for working class issues, these issues have started to gain ground with more and more everyday Americans across party lines as well," she said.