Sen. Bernie Sanders, the self-described democratic socialist and longtime advocate for reducing the wealth gap, found himself once again defending his travel habits during an interview with Fox News anchor Bret Baier on Wednesday. Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) have been touring the country on their “Fight Oligarchy” campaign, criticizing the political influence of the ultra-rich—yet their use of private jets has drawn fire from conservatives who claim the duo is preaching one thing while living another.

Baier confronted Sanders directly about the reports, referencing a Washington Free Beacon analysis claiming Sanders spent approximately $221,000 on private jet flights during the tour, funds that reportedly came from donors supporting his political activities. The anchor also noted allegations that Sanders’ campaigns over the years have spent millions on this form of luxury travel. Baier asked point-blank how the Vermont senator could justify those expenses while publicly condemning the excesses of wealthy elites.

Sanders, rather than addressing the criticism immediately, redirected attention to former President Donald Trump. During the 2024 presidential campaign, Trump regularly used his personal Boeing 757, something Sanders implied received far less scrutiny.

“When have you seen Donald Trump fly into National Airport when he’s campaigning?” Sanders asked.

Baier, quick to counter, replied, “He’s also not out there saying he’s fighting the oligarchy,” emphasizing the contradiction that critics see in Sanders’ message versus his methods.

Sanders then defended his travel choices, arguing that the grueling pace of campaign events makes commercial travel impractical. He explained that reaching multiple rallies in different states within only a few days requires efficiency and speed that commercial airlines cannot offer. “You run a campaign, and you do three, four, five rallies in a week. The only way you can get around to speak to 30,000 people is to fly privately,” he said.

The senator dismissed the notion that he should spend hours waiting in line at an airport while thousands of his supporters wait for him to arrive. He insisted he had nothing to apologize for. “That’s what campaign travel is about. We’ve done it before, and we’re going to keep doing it,” Sanders said firmly.

The conversation comes at a time when Sanders has also faced scrutiny for an entirely different moment—his abrupt walkout during an interview with ABC News’ Jonathan Karl in March. That tense exchange unfolded when Karl repeatedly asked whether Ocasio-Cortez should consider running for the Senate, possibly challenging Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer. Sanders viewed the question as irrelevant political speculation and made his frustration clear.

Karl pushed for clarification, but Sanders, visibly irritated, cut him off and labeled the topic “nonsense.” When the ABC host attempted to continue, Sanders stood up and walked out, leaving Karl stunned. Off camera, the senator insisted that Washington’s internal political maneuvering was not worth discussing when there were real issues facing the country. After cooling down, he returned long enough to answer one more question—but only one that had nothing to do with Ocasio-Cortez.

During that final exchange, Sanders was pressed about whether he would ever consider running for president again. At 83 years old, he acknowledged that another national campaign was unlikely, saying frankly that he was “old and tired.” His comments offered a rare moment of candid reflection from a politician known for his relentless energy on the campaign trail.

Sanders also criticized Schumer for allowing a continuing resolution to pass in Congress. That stopgap spending bill extended government funding through the end of the fiscal year. Sanders described its approval as a major failure of Democratic leadership, though he did not endorse efforts to challenge Schumer politically. Karl asked Sanders directly who he believed bore responsibility for the legislation’s passage.

“Schumer is the leader of the party, and it should not have happened. Period,” Sanders responded. His remarks were notable because Democrats—including Sanders in years past—have repeatedly warned that failing to pass such bills and allowing the government to shut down would cause significant economic and social harm.

Even so, Sanders maintained that Democratic leadership mishandled negotiations and failed to take a stronger stand. Critics, however, argue that blocking the bill would have led to a government shutdown—an outcome Sanders himself has historically opposed.

Between defending his campaign travel and navigating political tensions within his own party, Sanders remains a polarizing figure—admired by his supporters for his consistency and criticized by opponents who see contradictions in his actions. For now, the senator appears unfazed, continuing both his activism and his willingness to confront critics head-on.