Senator Bernie Sanders has responded to growing criticism over his use of private jets during his recent “Fight the Oligarchy” tour alongside Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), insisting the travel arrangements were necessary to meet the demands of a rigorous campaign-style schedule.
In an interview with Fox News anchor Bret Baier on Wednesday, the independent senator from Vermont pushed back against allegations of hypocrisy, after reports revealed he spent over $220,000 on private air travel funded by his political organization.
“You run a campaign, and you do three or four or five rallies in a week. The only way you can get around to talk to 30,000 people… that’s the only way you can get around. No apologies for that,” Sanders said defiantly during the broadcast.
The tour, which has made stops in multiple states, is part of a broader effort by Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez to mobilize progressive voters around economic inequality, corporate accountability, and what they call “the rising threat of oligarchy” in American politics. However, critics have seized on the private jet expenses as evidence that the message and the methods don’t match.
Baier pressed Sanders on reports from outlets like the Free Beacon, which claim that Sanders’ campaigns have spent millions on private air travel over the years. Sanders pivoted by comparing his travel needs to those of former President Donald Trump, pointing out that Trump frequently used his own private aircraft during political events.
“When’s the last time you saw Donald Trump during a campaign mode at National Airport?” Sanders asked, defending the choice as logistical, not ideological.
Baier replied, “But he’s also not fighting the oligarchy,” highlighting the perceived contradiction in Sanders’ message.
Despite the exchange, Sanders maintained that using private flights was a practical choice necessary to meet the demands of addressing large crowds across multiple cities in a short time. He also made it clear that this mode of travel would continue in future events.
“That’s what campaign travel is about. We’ve done it in the past, we’re going to do it in the future,” he said.
The incident follows a tense moment in March when Sanders walked out of a separate interview after refusing to answer whether Ocasio-Cortez should pursue a Senate run, further underscoring the senator’s sensitivity to questions that he views as politically motivated distractions.
As the 2026 political cycle begins to heat up, Sanders and his allies are expected to remain central figures in progressive activism—even as they face increased scrutiny over how their ideals align with their actions.