Sen. Bernie Sanders didn’t mince words after President Donald Trump once again claimed the 2020 election was “rigged” and lashed out at journalists who challenged him.
In a post on X Monday, the Vermont independent issued a blunt rebuke aimed directly at the president.
“You’re a president, not a dictator. Act like it,” Sanders wrote.
His comments came in response to Trump’s appearance on NBC’s Meet the Press, where the president repeated his long-standing allegations that the 2020 election he lost to former President Joe Biden was “rigged” and “dirty.”
Sanders forcefully rejected those claims while also criticizing Trump’s attacks on the press and his administration’s proposed $1.776 billion “anti-weaponization” fund.
“No, Mr. President. The 2020 election that you lost was not ‘rigged’ or ‘dirty,’ handing out $1.776 billion to violent insurrectionists is not a ‘good idea’ & reporters who ask questions about your bogus claims are not ‘crooked,'” Sanders wrote.
During the interview, Trump repeatedly clashed with moderator Kristen Welker, accusing both her and NBC News of dishonesty.
“You’re either crooked or you’re stupid,” Trump told Welker.
The president also insisted that election fraud remains an ongoing problem, pointing to California’s 2026 primary elections as evidence.
“It’s happening again right now in California, right now, look at what’s happening in California,” Trump said. “It’s been four days, and they aren’t even close, they’re cheating on the election.”
Trump’s comments came after Welker questioned him about the administration’s proposed $1.776 billion “anti-weaponization” fund and whether individuals connected to the January 6 Capitol riot could ultimately benefit from it.
The exchange quickly escalated into one of the most contentious moments of the interview, with Trump accusing the media of corruption while Sanders later argued that presidents are accountable to democratic institutions and cannot simply dismiss unfavorable outcomes as illegitimate.
The latest back-and-forth underscores a divide that continues to shape American politics: whether faith in elections and independent journalism can withstand repeated attacks from the nation’s highest office.
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