Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders said in a statement Wednesday afternoon that President-elect Donald Trump tapped into an anti-establishment mood and that he is prepared to work with Trump.
“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,” Sanders 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 Vermont senator had been campaigning heavily for Hillary Clinton in the lead-up to Tuesday’s election. At times, though, he was off message. Sanders said on Saturday that voters are “tired of the establishment.”
In his statement Sanders went on to say: “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. To the degree that he pursues racist, sexist, xenophobic and anti-environment policies, we will vigorously oppose him.”
It is notable that Sanders has yet to release a statement regarding Clinton.