Sanders on Private Jet Use During Fighting Oligarchy Tour: Can’t Wait in Line at Airport, I’ll Keep Using Private Jets

During Wednesday night’s episode of Special Report on Fox News, Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont addressed criticism over his extensive use of private jets during campaign events like The Fighting Oligarchy Tour. He defended the high travel costs by arguing that the demands of a busy campaign schedule necessitate such transportation. “You run a campaign and do you three or four or five rallies in a week,” Sanders said. “You think I’m going to be sitting on a waiting line at United waiting while 30,000 people are waiting?” He made it clear that he plans to continue flying private.

Host Bret Baier questioned Sanders about the optics of using luxurious travel while speaking out against the wealthy elite. Baier cited a critique from Rep. Elissa Slotkin, who said the term “oligarch” might not resonate with everyday Americans. He also referenced a Free Beacon report that Sanders spent $221,000 on private air travel during the anti-oligarchy tour, funded by his campaign committee, Friends of Bernie Sanders. Baier added that over the years, Sanders’ campaign has reportedly spent millions on similar travel arrangements. “How do you push back on both of those things?” Baier asked.

Sanders countered with a comparison. “When’s the last time you saw Donald Trump during a campaign mode at National Airport?” he asked pointedly.

Baier quickly replied, “No, no, no. It doesn’t. But he’s also not fighting the oligarchy.”

Sanders stood firm. “No. You run a campaign and do you three or four or five rallies in a week, the only way you can get around to talk to 30,000 people, you think I’m going to be sitting on a waiting line at United waiting while 30,000 people are waiting? That’s the only way you can get around. No apologies for that. That’s what campaign travel is about. We’ve done it in the past, we’re going to do it in the future.”

{Matzav.com}