WARREN, Mich. (AP) — Bernie Sanders stands atop a pickup truck, broadcasting into a bullhorn.
He addresses a crowd of several hundred enthusiastic supporters gathered outside a suburban Detroit high school, as those who couldn’t fit inside the gym or two overflow rooms cheer wildly upon hearing that a remarkable 9,000 individuals attended the rally.
“What this indicates to me is that not just in Michigan or Vermont, but across this nation, the people will not permit us to drift into oligarchy. They will not let Trump lead us into authoritarian rule,” Sanders proclaimed passionately. “We are ready to fight. And we are going to prevail.”
At 83 years old, Sanders has opted not to run for the presidency again. However, the silver-haired and slightly hunched democratic socialist has emerged as a pivotal figure in the resistance against Donald Trump’s potential second term. Vocal about Trump’s power grabs and the implications of dismissing tens of thousands of government workers, Sanders diverges from those who prefer Democrats to dwell on the cost of eggs or to “roll over and play dead.”
For the moment, Sanders is the sole elected progressive prepared to undertake a nationwide campaign that channels the rage and frustration of the extensive anti-Trump movement.
He attracted a crowd of 4,000 in Kenosha, Wisconsin, on Friday night and spoke to another 2,600 or so in Altoona, Wisconsin, the following morning, a small town with a population under 10,000. The turnout of 9,000 in suburban Detroit surpassed even his own team’s forecasts. Each rally stop was strategically chosen in swing U.S. House districts held by Republicans.
Having recently secured his fourth Senate term from Vermont, Sanders admitted that this is not the role he anticipated at this phase of his career.
In fact, his team deliberately delayed the launch of what they now call his “stop oligarchy tour” during the early days of Trump’s presidency, hoping another high-profile Democrat would step forward. Instead, Sanders — who doesn’t formally identify as a Democrat despite collaborating with Senate Democrats and running for the Democratic presidential nomination twice — has left people wondering if he’s contemplating another run for the White House.
“These are akin to presidential campaign rallies, right? But I’m not campaigning and this is not an election bid,” Sanders told The Associated Press. “You do what you have to do. The country is in crisis, and I want to contribute.”
The divided Democratic resistance
Since the loss of the White House, Democrats in Washington have struggled to unify around a consistent message or figure to combat Trump’s aggressive measures to reduce the government workforce, diminish federal oversight, and empower tech mogul Elon Musk to implement his vision.
There has been no cohesive movement to mobilize the anti-Trump resistance.
“Look around — who else is taking action? No one,” Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., remarked regarding Sanders’ initiatives. “I hope a breakthrough occurs with Democrats going on the offensive … We must take our message directly to the public.”
Ocasio-Cortez, a steadfast ally of Sanders, plans to accompany him on the road in the coming weeks. She is also organizing individual appearances in Republican-dominated congressional districts in Pennsylvania and New York — and potentially more locations where Republicans have avoided in-person town halls to evade protests.
“It’s not about whether Bernie should or shouldn’t be doing this. It’s about all of us stepping up,” she emphasized. “But he is one of a kind in this country, and as long as we have his capability on our side, we ought to be grateful.”
Aside from Sanders’ tour, frustrated voters have turned to grassroots organizations like Indivisible to coordinate a series of local demonstrations, which have pressured some of Trump’s allies effectively. Several House Republicans facing indignant inquiries have taken a stance against Musk or challenged the budget cuts initiated by his supporters.
Indivisible co-founder Ezra Levin, who has been critical of many Democratic leaders, commended Sanders for stepping up.
“I wish more Democrats were traveling the nation, including in red states, to rally the majority against Musk and Project 2025,” Levin stated. “It’s definitely more impactful than (House Democratic leader Hakeem) Jeffries touring for his children’s book while our constitution faces a crisis.”
During last month’s congressional break, Jeffries made two stops to promote a children’s book about democracy. He has also traveled to support House Democrats, including a recent visit to Selma, Alabama, to commemorate the 60th anniversary of Bloody Sunday.
The reality is that few, if any, Democratic leaders possess the ability to draw such crowds on short notice or manage the related logistics on a national scale. The emerging class of potential presidential candidates for 2028, which includes California Gov. Gavin Newsom, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, and Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, have limited national visibility and have been hesitant to step into the national limelight.
Connecticut Sen. Chris Murphy, one of the more vocal critics of Trump in Congress, remarked that Democrats must improve their organization.
“People are eager to engage in action right now. They perceive the threat. They are anxious, furious, and motivated, and they seek direction to help,” he explained.
Murphy acknowledged that Sanders continues to have many detractors within the Democratic Party who view his progressive policy proposals — such as replacing private and job-based health insurance with a government-funded “Medicare for All” system, complimentary public college, and the “Green New Deal” on climate policy — as excessively radical.
Indeed, just five years ago, Democrats unified behind Joe Biden to effectively prevent Sanders from securing the party’s 2020 presidential nomination.
“Many still perceive Bernie as a threat to the party,” Murphy said, “while I view his message as central to what we must build upon.”
Sanders has been a strong supporter of Biden over the past four years, but he criticized the Democratic Party after Kamala Harris’ defeat last fall, stating that Trump’s election was feasible only because Democrats had “abandoned” the working class.
United Auto Workers President Shawn Fain, who introduced Sanders in Michigan, insisted that more Democrats need to “emulate his approach by focusing on working-class people and their issues.”
“Democrats must take a hard look in the mirror and determine who they truly want to represent,” Fain urged. “As a union, we’ve been clear — if they aren’t advocating for working-class individuals, we won’t support them.”
The voters speak
The attendees at venues across Wisconsin and Michigan this past weekend presented a diverse demographic, including many who did not support Sanders in prior presidential campaigns. The majority expressed that Democratic leaders have not done enough to counter Trump.
“I’m here because I’m terrified for our country. The last six weeks have been disastrous,” shared Diana Schack, a 72-year-old retired attorney attending her first Sanders rally. “I am becoming a more devoted Bernie supporter, particularly in light of the work he’s doing by traveling the country. These are unprecedented times.”
In Kenosha, the night before, Amber Schulz, a 50-year-old healthcare worker, called on her party to “step up and take action.”
“Bernie is the only politician I genuinely trust,” she declared.
Tony Gonzales, a 56-year-old independent from Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin, expressed his concern that Trump would “upend historical American standards” and attempt to remain in power beyond this term. The Constitution restricts presidents to serving no more than two terms, even though Trump has hinted that he deserves a third term.
“This is a perilous time,” Gonzales emphasized. “What Bernie articulates — and the turnout — is vital. His voice still resonates.”
Sanders rallied the crowds over the weekend with the same impassioned populist message he’s delivered for decades, tapping into the nation’s economic disparities to advocate for free healthcare, no-cost public higher education, and enhanced social safety net programs. Sanders focused particularly on the cadre of billionaires Trump has appointed to key roles in his administration, including Musk and others.
“They intend to dismantle the federal government and eliminate programs that working individuals critically rely on,” Sanders cautioned.
“Indeed, the oligarchs are exceptionally powerful. They possess infinite resources. They dominate our economy. They control much of the media and wield considerable influence over our political system,” he continued. “But from deep within my heart, I believe that if we unite, we can overcome them.”
It remains uncertain how long Sanders, an octogenarian who was hospitalized for a heart condition during his 2020 campaign, will maintain this position. A spokesperson noted that Sanders hasn’t encountered health issues since the 2019 incident.
He is not anticipated to slow his pace anytime soon. Sanders is relying on his 2020 presidential campaign manager, Faiz Shakir, to organize his events, supported by a small group of former campaign staffers working on a contractual basis.
Shakir, who lost his bid to become the new chair of the Democratic National Committee, acknowledged that there are strategic disagreements within the party regarding the best approach to confront Trump.
Last month, veteran political strategist James Carville published an editorial urging Democrats to “roll over and play dead,” betting that Trump and his party would eventually face political repercussions from voters for their overreach.
“One theory advocates for playing dead; strategically withdrawing,” Shakir explained. “Alternatively, you can be proactive, engaging with people and communicating with them genuinely.”
