Sanders says his first priority is to defeat Trump

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) said Sunday that his first priority is to defeat President Trump and then focus on promoting the progressive agenda once presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden is elected.

During an appearance on CNN’s “State of the Union,” the former 2020 Democratic candidate called on his supporters to work to get Trump out of office. 

{mosads}“My message to our supporters is we have got to do everything that we can to defeat Donald Trump, who I view as the most dangerous president in American history,” Sanders said.

“And then what we have to do the day after we elect Joe Biden as president we got to rally our people to stand up and fight for an America that works for all and not just the few,” he added. “And that absolutely includes Medicare for All.” 

CNN’s Jake Tapper pointed to a Wall Street Journal op-ed headline that said “Wall Street sighs with relief” after Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) was chosen as Biden’s running mate. 

“If Wall Street breathes a sigh of relief with Kamala Harris being named to the ticket, what does Bernie Sanders do?” Tapper asked.

“What Bernie Sanders is going to do is do everything that I can to defeat Donald Trump, to elect Joe Biden,” Sanders  responded. 

CNN’s @jaketapper: “If Wall Street breathes a sigh of relief with Kamala Harris being named to the ticket, what does Bernie Sanders do?”

Sen. Bernie Sanders: “Well, Bernie Sanders does everything that he can to defeat Donald Trump who’s undermining American democracy.” #CNNSOTU pic.twitter.com/3TSdhT34Ln

— State of the Union (@CNNSotu) August 16, 2020

“And after the Democrats have control of the Senate and the House, and Joe is the president, we’re gonna do all that we can to mobilize people for a progressive agenda,” he added.

Sanders’s remarks come as several voices in the progressive movement have bemoaned the upcoming nomination of Biden and Harris for the Democratic presidential ticket, saying their platform will not do enough to combat inequality.