Bernie Sanders Rallies Support Against Trump in “Fighting Oligarchy” Tour

Bernie Sanders is emerging as one of the most vocal opponents to US President Donald Trump, with the 83-year-old senator drawing tens of thousands of people to his “fighting oligarchy” rallies across the country. The self-described socialist, an independent who has never been a member of the Democratic Party, has been attracting crowds over the past two months on his nationwide tour.

Supporters packed the Gloria Molina Grand Park in Los Angeles on Saturday, as guests including politicians, union representatives, and musical acts took to the stage before speeches by Sanders and Democrat representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. “There are some 36,000 of you, the largest rally that we have ever had,” Sanders told the cheering crowd. “Your presence here today is making Donald Trump and Elon Musk very nervous.”

His progressive, leftist rhetoric has resonated with people opposed to Trump’s policies and those disappointed in the established Democrats’ lack of political resistance. Folk rock legend Neil Young led the LA crowd in chanting “Take America Back!” while playing electric guitar, and feminist singer-songwriter Maggie Rogers dubbed the event “Berniechella,” a nod to the Coachella music festival.

Alex Powell, a 28-year-old art teacher in the audience, said Americans “need hope.” She added, “I’m really disappointed by the Democrats’ response, I want more action on their part, more outrage.” Powell described how some of her middle school pupils were “traumatized” after one of their parents was deported under Trump’s anti-immigrant campaign.

Sanders addressed a litany of grievances, including Trump’s massive cuts to government funding and threats to healthcare and research. Mentions of Elon Musk, the owner of Tesla and X, drew boos from the crowd. The South African billionaire, tasked by Trump with reducing government spending, is seen by Sanders supporters as a symbol of wealth’s corrupting influence in politics.

Sanders was “right the whole time,” said 27-year-old housekeeper Vera Loh. “The collusion of money and politics has had terrible effects.” Loh said she was stunned by the apathy of many Democrat leaders since Trump’s defeat of presidential candidate Kamala Harris in November.

“The party put too much focus on minorities,” Loh said. “If people don’t see it as a class war, then we just get lost with the identity politics.” She told AFP she wanted politicians to remember, “We want higher pay, we want housing, we want to be able to afford things.”

“We are living in a moment where a handful of billionaires control the economic and political life of our country,” Sanders said on Saturday. He warned that Trump is moving the United States “rapidly toward an authoritarian form of society.”

The senator from Vermont hopes to encourage new independents to run for office without the Democrat label, at a time when the party is polling at historic lows. Sanders has no ambitions to run for president in 2028 but has taken rising progressive Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez under his wing.

“No matter your race, religion, gender, identity or status, no matter if you disagree with me on some things… I hope you see that this movement is not about partisan labels or purity tests, but it’s about class solidarity,” the 35-year-old congresswoman told the crowd. “She would make a good presidential candidate,” said Lesley Henderson, a 52-year-old nursing assistant and former Republican. “I just hope it’s not too late.”