Bernie Sanders has issued a stark warning to Democratic candidate Kamala Harris: she must fight economic inequality or risk losing the election.
The 82-year-old independent addressed 250 supporters during a town hall meeting Friday afternoon about what he believes are America’s biggest problems.
After an audience member at the event chimed in to say that the biggest problem was economic inequality, he spoke at length about its far-reaching implications.
“The discrepancies between rich and poor, the inequality of income and wealth, I’m inclined to agree,” he told the crowd.
Talking with The Boston Globe After delivering his remarks, Sanders said, “(Harris) needs to have an agenda that addresses the crisis facing working families across the country.”
The 82-year-old, seen here last month, addressed 250 supporters during a town hall meeting Friday afternoon about what he believes are America’s biggest problems.
Sanders said Harris needed to have an agenda that spoke to working families facing economic inequality.
Sanders added: “I think Democrats are going to have to be very, very clear about what their ideas are in the midst of massive income and wealth inequality.
“When those at the top have never had it so good, what is the agenda to protect the needs of the working class?”
He continued: “It’s not my job to dictate what policies you need to have,” but added that he wants to see expanded Social Security and Medicare benefits.
Sanders also called for reviving the child tax credit that was put in place during the pandemic, adding: “I think if a presidential candidate embraces these ideas, it will give them a significant political advantage. Not to mention it’s the right thing to do.”
Asked about Republican candidate Donald Trump, he said, “I’m going to do everything I can to see that Donald Trump is defeated.”
He added that the former president is “the most dangerous person in the history of the United States” and “a pathological liar.”
Sanders continued: “I think if the vice president is the winner, and I certainly want her to win and I will do everything I can to make sure she wins.”
He has not yet formally endorsed Harris for president, suggesting to the outlet that he wants to influence her platform and message ahead of the election.
Sanders called the former president “the most dangerous person in American history” and “a pathological liar.”
Sanders admitted before Biden withdrew his re-election bid that he was “mistake-prone,” but warned that obsessing over them would hand the election to Trump.
In an essay for the New York Times this month, Sanders admitted that Joe Biden “is old, gaffe-prone, walks stiffly and had a disastrous debate with Trump.”
The op-ed was published before Biden withdrew his bid for re-election.
He warned his party’s supporters that obsessing over Biden’s mistakes would only guarantee Donald Trump’s election.
Sanders said that despite his own doubts about Biden, he remains a superior choice to Trump, whom he reduced to his litany of felony charges.
“Unlike Republicans, they don’t have to justify a candidate who now has 34 felony convictions and faces charges that could lead to dozens more convictions,” he added.
He accused Trump of wanting to protect billionaires at the expense of ordinary Americans.