Bernie Sanders Statement on the 2016 Election

Gina Mei
Updated

From Cosmopolitan

After previously declining to comment on the results of the election Tuesday night due to having "nothing polite to say," Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders released a powerful statement Wednesday afternoon, explaining why he believes Donald Trump won the election, before taking a subtle dig at the president-elect for not paying his taxes for multiple years.

"Donald Trump tapped into the anger of a declining middle class that is sick and tired of establishment economics, establishment politics, and the establishment media," he said. "People are tired of working longer hours for lower wages, of seeing decent paying jobs go to China and other low-wage countries, of billionaires not paying any federal income taxes and of not being able to afford a college education for their kids - all while the very rich become much richer."

The senator went on to say that he and other progressives are "prepared to work with" Trump in improving the lives of the working class, but will "vigorously oppose" any policies he puts forward that will move our country backward.

"To the degree that Mr. Trump is serious about pursuing policies that improve the lives of working families in this country, I and other progressives are prepared to work with him," he continued. "To the degree that he pursues racist, sexist, xenophobic, and anti-environment policies, we will vigorously oppose him."

Prior to the election, Sen. Sanders released a video on Twitter, urging voters to go to the polls.

"Today is an election of enormous consequence," he said. "I hope everybody gets out to vote."

He also doubled down on his beliefs that Election Day should be a national holiday, so more people would be able to vote.

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