Bernie Sanders is really hoping Donald Trump is the Republican nominee

For his own selfish reasons, Bernie Sanders really wants Donald Trump to be the Republican nominee. The Vermont senator admitted at a New Hampshire town hall Wednesday night that he's pulling for Trump in the GOP primary only for the chance to crush him later. "I would love the opportunity to run against him," the Democratic presidential candidate said. "I think we would win by a lot."
Sanders then explained why, given the choice between him and Trump, a voter should obviously support him. "If you examine his agenda, it is not an agenda for working Americans," Sanders said, underscoring that Trump once said "wages are too high in America."
"And here's the other one that kind of blows me away," he added. "Trump is, as you know, a well-known scientist. Brilliant scientist. ...[Trump] has concluded after years of studying the issue that climate change is a hoax, brought to us by the Chinese. Now that shocked me... because I thought that he would've thought it was a hoax brought to us by the Mexicans or the Muslims."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Trump was quick to respond to Sanders' remarks on Twitter, dismissing the jabs as nothing more than reverse psychology. Becca Stanek
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
August 24 editorial cartoons
Cartoons Sunday's political cartoons include Putin at Donald Trump's circus, gallons of whitewash, and a foldable cartoon
-
5 Post Office-approved cartoons about mail-in voting
Cartoons Artists take on reverse logic, Putin's election advice, and more
-
The battle of the weight-loss drugs
Talking Point Can Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly regain their former stock market glory? A lot is riding on next year's pills
-
Judge: Trump's US attorney in NJ serving unlawfully
Speed Read The appointment of Trump's former personal defense lawyer, Alina Habba, as acting US attorney in New Jersey was ruled 'unlawful'
-
Third judge rejects DOJ's Epstein records request
Speed Read Judge Richard Berman was the third and final federal judge to reject DOJ petitions to unseal Epstein-related grand jury material
-
Texas OKs gerrymander sought by Trump
Speed Read The House approved a new congressional map aimed at flipping Democratic-held seats to Republican control
-
Israel starts Gaza assault, approves West Bank plan
Speed Read Israel forces pushed into the outskirts of Gaza City and Netanyahu's government gave approval for a settlement to cut the occupied Palestinian territory in two
-
Court says labor board's structure unconstitutional
Speed Read The ruling has broad implications for labor rights enforcement in Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi
-
Feds seek harsh charges in DC arrests, except for rifles
Speed Read The DOJ said 465 arrests had been made in D.C. since Trump federalized law enforcement there two weeks ago
-
Trump taps Missouri AG to help lead FBI
Speed Read Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey has been appointed FBI co-deputy director, alongside Dan Bongino
-
Trump warms to Kyiv security deal in summit
Speed Read Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called Trump's support for guaranteeing his country's security 'a major step forward'