Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont defended his endorsement of President Biden’s potential 2024 re-election campaign on Sunday, responding to criticism from third-party presidential candidate Cornel West.
In an interview on NBC News’ “Meet the Press,” Sanders was asked if he believed there should be a thorough discussion within the left about a competitive primary. Sanders stressed the importance of unifying progressive forces, especially in the face of the potential candidacy of former President Trump, whom he described as “an authoritarian and a very, very dangerous person.” He emphasized the need for progressive unity to address critical issues such as women’s reproductive rights, climate change, the working class, and wealth inequality.
Additionally, in response to Cornel West’s remarks that Sanders supported Biden out of fear of Trump’s neo-fascism, Sanders asserted on CNN’s “State of the Union” that he disagreed with West. Sanders argued that, in these challenging times when the fate of American democracy is in question, it is essential to mobilize the entire progressive community to defeat Trump or any other Republican nominee and to support Biden.
