U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders has urged his fellow Democratic lawmakers in Congress to resist pressure from President Donald Trump and Republicans during the ongoing government shutdown, warning that yielding to their demands could accelerate the nation’s slide toward authoritarianism.
In an op-ed published in The Guardian, Sanders (I-Vt.) characterized Trump as a “schoolyard bully” and argued that those who believe capitulating to him would lead to improved outcomes or cooperation fail to understand how a power-hungry demagogue operates.
Sanders described Trump as a leader who threatens to jail political opponents, deploys military forces into Democratic cities, and permits Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents to apprehend individuals without due process. He also highlighted Trump’s legal actions against major media outlets, his alleged extortion of law firms, and his withholding of federal funds from states that oppose him.
“If Democrats capitulate,” Sanders warned, “Trump will use this victory to speed up his movement toward authoritarianism.” He added that Trump, already showing no respect for the system of checks and balances, would be further emboldened to dismantle programs supporting vulnerable populations while favoring wealthy elites with tax breaks and other benefits.
The op-ed was released as the government shutdown persisted, with Democrats maintaining their stance on extending Affordable Care Act (ACA) tax credits as a prerequisite for any funding agreement. Republicans have refused to negotiate on the issue, even as health insurance premiums continue to rise nationwide.
Meanwhile, the Trump administration has been illegally withholding Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) funding from tens of millions of Americans, including children, despite court orders requiring its release.
In a recent “60 Minutes” interview, Trump called on Republicans to eliminate the 60-vote Senate filibuster, which currently requires bipartisan support to pass government funding measures. Without it, he suggested, Republicans could advance their agenda unilaterally. “The Republicans have to get tougher,” he said. “If we end the filibuster, we can do exactly what we want. We’re not going to lose power.”
Some Democratic allies, including the head of the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), have urged the party to reach a deal to end the shutdown and ease the hardship faced by federal workers. However, Democrats appear unmoved by these calls, and labor leaders have expressed support for the party’s position on ACA subsidies.
Jaime Contreras, executive vice president of the Service Employees International Union Local 32BJ, stated, “We’re urging our Democratic friends to hold the line.”
In his op-ed, Sanders posed a rhetorical question: “Does anyone truly believe that caving in to Trump now will stop his unprecedented attacks on our democracy and working people?”
He concluded that yielding to Trump would represent a betrayal of the values for which many Americans have fought and died, as well as a rejection of the working class struggling through tough economic conditions. “Democrats in Congress are the last remaining opposition to Trump’s quest for absolute power,” he wrote. “To surrender now would be an historic tragedy for our country, something that history will not look kindly upon.”
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