In a fiery speech at a rally in Stevens Point, Wisconsin, Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) did not mince words when discussing former President Donald Trump, according to a report by The Hill on Friday, June 28, 2024. Sanders, known for his outspoken and candid style, called Trump a “pathological liar” and criticized his time in office, highlighting the stark differences between Trump’s administration and the current Democratic leadership.
“The vast majority of the American people were distressed by what they saw in Donald Trump,” Sanders asserted. “They saw a pathological liar who lied and lied and lied.” Sanders’s remarks came during a weeklong campaign tour across Wisconsin, a state with significant political history for the senator.
The Daily Cardinal, the student newspaper of the University of Wisconsin, captured audio from the event, which quickly spread across social media and news outlets. Trump’s tenure as president was marked by numerous controversies and false statements. Fact-checkers and media organizations documented thousands of false or misleading claims made by Trump during his time in office.
Sanders’s harsh critique aimed to remind voters of the chaos and misinformation that characterized the Trump administration. Sanders’s tour across Wisconsin has significant historical context. He famously defeated former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (D) in the 2016 Democratic primaries, a victory that shocked many political observers.
Clinton, who did not campaign extensively in the state, ultimately lost Wisconsin to Trump in the general election. Biden, however, managed to secure a narrow victory in the state by a margin of 21,000 votes in 2020. Trump’s contentious relationship with the city has also been a focal point. Earlier this month, Democrats criticized Trump for reportedly calling Milwaukee “a horrible city” during a meeting with House Republicans.
“The vast majority of the American people were distressed by what they saw in Donald Trump,” Sanders reiterated. “They saw a pathological liar who lied and lied and lied.” This strong rhetoric against Trump is part of Sanders’s strategy to consolidate Democratic support and energize voters who may be disillusioned with the current administration’s performance.
By juxtaposing Biden’s tangible achievements with Trump’s controversial tenure, Sanders aims to highlight the progress made under Democratic leadership and the potential for further advancements with a second Biden term. Sanders’s blunt critique of Trump was coupled with a defense of President Biden’s record, despite expressing disappointment over Biden’s recent debate performance.
Sanders acknowledged Biden’s accomplishments, such as being the first American president to walk a picket line and his record on job creation and infrastructure spending. “I thought he was lacking in not doing what we all have to do, telling the American people what the agenda is for the next four years,” Sanders noted.
“So, why don’t I do that?” he quipped before launching into a speech supporting Biden and the broader Democratic agenda. Sanders highlighted several priorities for a potential second Biden term, including increased infrastructure investment in Wisconsin, lower prescription drug prices, and reduced healthcare costs. These points aimed to reassure voters of the tangible benefits a continued Biden presidency would offer.