Bernie Sanders Parrots Biden’s Lines, But It Backfires Spectacularly [WATCH]

Treasury Secretary nominee Scott Bessent turned the tables on Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) during a heated confirmation hearing on Thursday, drawing attention to Joe Biden’s controversial awards to prominent billionaires.

The exchange came as Sanders questioned Bessent on the growing influence of wealthy elites in American politics, echoing Biden’s remarks from his farewell address.

Referencing Biden’s statement that “an oligarchy is taking shape in America of extreme wealth, power and influence,” Sanders pressed Bessent on whether he agreed that tech moguls like Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, and Jeff Bezos hold disproportionate sway over the country.

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“When you have a small number of multi-billionaires who have enormous economic, media, and political power, would you agree with President Biden who last night stated and I quote, ‘an oligarchy is taking shape in America of extreme wealth, power and influence that threatens our entire democracy, our basic rights and freedoms?’ That’s what President Biden said last night. I agree with him, do you?” Sanders asked.

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Outgoing President Joe Biden used his farewell address Wednesday night to caution Americans about what he described as a growing “tech-industrial complex” and the formation of an “oligarchy” in… pic.twitter.com/7QaQtezkbY

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In response, Bessent pointed out the irony in Biden’s statement by highlighting Biden’s decision to award the Presidential Medal of Freedom to two high-profile billionaires, George Soros and David Rubenstein.

“Well, I would note that President Biden gave the Presidential Medal of Freedom to two people who I think would qualify for his oligarchs,” Bessent said, prompting Sanders to swiftly pivot to another question.

Bessent further noted that the tech billionaires Sanders mentioned, including Musk, had built their wealth independently, saying, “Look, the three billionaires who you listed, they all made the money themselves. Mr. Musk came to the country as an immigrant.”

Sanders dismissed the origins of their wealth and focused on their current influence, suggesting that a limited number of people with significant political power creates an “oligarchic form of society.”

Joe Biden awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom to 19 individuals in 2024, including Soros, Rubenstein, former Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton, and former Republican Senator Mitt Romney of Utah.

The White House praised Soros and Rubenstein for their philanthropy and contributions to preserving cultural landmarks and institutions.

Soros, the founder of the Open Society Foundations, has funneled hundreds of millions of dollars into progressive causes, including supporting district attorneys and judges with soft-on-crime policies.

His political action committees also fund left-wing candidates across the U.S., drawing criticism from conservatives for their impact on law enforcement and judicial systems.

Rubenstein, co-founder of the private equity firm The Carlyle Group, has a net worth of approximately $4 billion and is a prominent philanthropist in Washington, D.C.

He has donated millions to institutions such as the Smithsonian and the National Archives, cementing his reputation as an influential figure in the nation’s capital.

Bessent’s ability to redirect the conversation back to Biden’s own actions highlighted the contradictions within the President’s critique of oligarchs.

As the confirmation process moves forward, Bessent’s handling of such questioning may prove pivotal in shaping perceptions of his nomination.

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