Speaking to hundreds of supporters across New Jersey, Senator Bernie Sanders delivered a passionate address outlining the dual fight he sees for the Democratic Party: to defeat Trumpism in all its forms, and to create a party that truly fights for working people rather than the billionaire class. Sanders framed the stakes as both economic and moral, emphasizing the concentration of wealth and power among a tiny elite while millions of Americans struggle to make ends meet.

“The fight right now is twofold: defeat Trumpism in all its ugly forms. Fight for a Democratic Party that stands with the working class of this country and is prepared to take on the oligarchs,” Sanders wrote in an accompanying post, echoing the themes of his speech.

The fight right now is twofold:

Defeat Trumpism in all its ugly forms.

Fight for a Democratic Party that stands with the working class of this country and is prepared to take on the oligarchs. pic.twitter.com/pSQggljlnh

— Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) January 23, 2026

Sanders began by highlighting what he described as unprecedented inequality: “Never before have so few had so much. While so many people are struggling, 60% of our people are living paycheck to paycheck.” He condemned the billionaire class for controlling both the economy and the media, arguing that they foster a culture that convinces people they are powerless. “We’re here tonight to tell them: go to hell,” Sanders said.

He detailed the staggering concentration of wealth: “The top 1% in American society now owns more wealth than the bottom 93%… One man, Mr. Musk, owns more wealth than the bottom 52% of American households.” He added that CEOs earn on average 350 times what their workers make, and six major media conglomerates control 90% of what Americans see, hear, and read.

Bernie Sanders: “Elon Musk owns more wealth than the bottom 52% of American households. It is insane that the top 1% owns more wealth than the bottom 93%. Billionaires are flourishing and 60% of Americans are living paycheck to paycheck.” pic.twitter.com/tZUtNRHfqy

— Marco Foster (@MarcoFoster_) December 12, 2025

Sanders repeatedly criticized former President Donald Trump, both as a symbol of oligarchic influence and as a threat to democracy. “We’ve got to do everything that we can to defeat Trumpism in all of its ugly manifestations,” he said. He denounced Trump’s policies that he says harm the working class, including efforts to throw 15 million people off Medicaid, and pointed out that some working-class support for Trump stems from Democrats failing to offer a real alternative.

On Trump’s foreign policy and personal conduct, Sanders mocked his erratic approach: “We have an increasingly unpopular, out-of-touch, narcissistic, mentally unstable president… He wants to take Greenland because he didn’t get a prize. This is like a spoiled three-year-old. That is not how you make foreign policy.”

Sanders emphasized the economic struggles faced by ordinary Americans: “60% of our people are living paycheck to paycheck… You stay up nights worrying about rent, your car breaking down, or how to pay for child care.” He highlighted life expectancy disparities caused by economic stress, noting that working-class Americans die an average of seven years earlier than wealthy Americans.

He reiterated his long-standing advocacy for Medicare for All, arguing the U.S. healthcare system is inefficient and inequitable: “We spend $15,000 per person per year on healthcare… and yet we have 85 million people uninsured or underinsured. 60,000 people a year are dying unnecessarily.” Sanders contrasted this with other wealthy nations, emphasizing that healthcare is a human right, not a privilege.

He also touched on housing, wages, and education, noting that millions of Americans spend half their income on rent, wages have stagnated despite increased productivity, and the cost of education has soared. Sanders argued for affordable housing, free universal child care, and tuition-free education from pre-K through graduate school.

Sanders warned that artificial intelligence and robotics, while potentially beneficial, are being controlled by billionaires who do not prioritize workers’ welfare. “Elon Musk… says, ‘AI and robots will replace all jobs.’ Sam Alman says, ‘Entire classes of jobs will go away.’” Sanders argued that increased productivity should translate into shorter work weeks with no loss of pay, rather than mass unemployment. He also raised concerns about AI’s mental health impacts, noting that young people increasingly rely on robots rather than human connections.

Sanders concluded with a message of unity and empowerment: “They got the wealth—the oligarchs and Trump and his friends—unlimited wealth. They got a huge amount of power. They control the media. They control the economy. But you know what we got? We got the people. And at the end of the day, when people stand together, nothing is going to stop us. Power to the people. Power to the people.”

Throughout his remarks, Sanders combined sharp criticism of Trump and the billionaire class with a call for progressive Democrats to organize, mobilize, and fight for policies that benefit working Americans.