Last updated on September 25th, 2023 at 02:05 pm
During an interview on ABC’s This Week, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) raised serious concerns about Trump’s legitimacy, and when asked didn’t call the president-elect a legitimate president.
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Transcript via ABC’s This Week:
SEN. BERNIE SANDERS, (I) VERMONT: Well, what Cory Booker and John Lewis are right about is to talk about the racist past of Donald Trump.
We all remember that Trump was one of the leaders of the so-called birther movement trying to delegitimize the presidency of our first African-American President Barack Obama, which is an outrage.
So, I think right now, the focus has got to be on how we hold Trump accountable. What has been doing in the last week, attacking Hollywood actresses for criticizing him, I mean what would is this guy living in?
But right now what my job is, and I think the job of Democrats and Republicans, is to protect the middle class and working families of this country from some devastating ideas that Trump has proposed.
You will remember, George…
STEPHANOPOULOS: Do you think Donald Trump will be a legitimate president?
SANDERS: Well, I think he’s going to be inaugurated this week. I have great concerns, and apparently Republicans do as well, and there’s going to be an investigation about the role that Russian hacking played in getting him elected.
Do I think Russians supported him? Do I think they tried to get him elected? Do I think it worked against Clinton? I do. And that is something that has to be investigated.
STEPHANOPOULOS: Does that make him illegitimate?
SANDERS: But right now, what my job is — pardon me? Those are just words. Right now, what my — my job is right now going beyond media conflicts and words is to say that Donald Trump, among other things, told the American people he would not cut Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, and right now Republicans in the House and Senate are doing just that.
Sanders, Lewis, Booker and others are far from alone. As long as questions remain about Russia’s role in helping Trump win the election, many will not view him as a legitimate president.
The years of birtherism that Republicans engaged in against Obama have come home to roost. Republicans opened up this door by working endlessly for eight years to delegitimize President Obama. Bernie Sanders is a pretty straight talker, so his lack of answer on questions of Trump’s legitimacy spoke volumes about how he feels.
Bernie Sanders is not willing to openly recognize Trump’s legitimacy. Republicans can try to ignore them, but the concerns are real, and they have already undermined Trump’s presidency.
Jason is the managing editor. He is also a White House Press Pool and a Congressional correspondent for PoliticusUSA. Jason has a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science. His graduate work focused on public policy, with a specialization in social reform movements.
Awards and Professional Memberships
Member of the Society of Professional Journalists and The American Political Science Association
