During a recent interview on “Meet the Press,” Senator Bernie Sanders took aim at Vice President Kamala Harris, a move that Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump seized upon as a major win. In a post on Truth Social, Trump highlighted Sanders’ criticism, declaring, “Bernie Sanders really threw Comrade Kamala Harris under the proverbial ‘BUS.’” Trump continued, “He made it clear that she is a total phony. Once a Marxist, always a Marxist!”
Although Trump’s post didn’t detail the specific comments that could sway voters, Sanders criticized Harris’ apparent policy shifts. Sanders pointed out that while Harris claims her core values remain unchanged, she has notably adjusted her stance on several issues, including the border, the border wall, fracking, policing, expanding the child tax credit, and even adopting Trump’s position on not taxing tips. According to Sanders, these changes reflect Harris’ attempts to “say things in order to win the election.”
Sanders, while acknowledging Harris as a progressive, suggested that her policy flip-flops are strategic rather than indicative of a genuine ideological shift. “I don’t think she’s abandoning her ideals,” Sanders stated. “I do consider her progressive.”
Since Harris emerged as the leading Democratic nominee after President Joe Biden’s exit from the race, Trump has consistently warned that politicians may alter their rhetoric to win elections but tend to revert to their original positions once in power. At his campaign rallies, Trump has frequently noted that politicians’ “first thoughts” are often where they return when they assume office. This sentiment aligns with his critique of Harris’ evolving policy positions, underscoring a broader Republican critique that many Democrats’ election-time promises are merely tactical adjustments rather than reflections of their true intentions.