Bernie Sanders Leads the Charge Against Trump’s Return

At 83, Bernie Sanders isn’t running for president, but he’s leading a national movement against Donald Trump’s second term. Standing on the back of a pickup truck outside a packed Michigan high school, Sanders rallied thousands, warning against authoritarianism and vowing to fight.

His “Stop Oligarchy Tour” has drawn massive crowds, with 4,000 people in Kenosha, 2,600 in Altoona, and 9,000 in suburban Detroit. Each stop targets Republican-held swing districts, as Sanders aims to harness fear and frustration over Trump’s aggressive policies, including government workforce cuts and weakened federal oversight.

While many Democratic leaders remain hesitant, Sanders’ longtime ally Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has pledged to join him, urging others to step up. “We need to take the argument directly to the people,” she said.

Grassroots groups like Indivisible have mobilized local protests, but few Democrats have the national pull Sanders commands. Some party leaders, like Sen. Chris Murphy, recognize the urgency, saying, “People see the threat. They are anxious and motivated.”

Still, Sanders faces resistance from within the Democratic Party. Some see his progressive policies—Medicare for All, free public college, and the Green New Deal—as too extreme. Yet United Auto Workers President Shawn Fain believes Democrats must follow Sanders’ lead. “If they aren’t looking out for working-class people, we’re not going to be there for them.”

Sanders insists he’s not running for president but says, “The country’s in trouble, and I want to play my role.” With no other national Democrat stepping up in the same way, for now, Bernie Sanders is leading the charge.