Sanders likes to paint himself as a champion of the working class. But now he has been forced to eat his words.
Now Bernie Sanders went pale as a ghost after these receipts surfaced.
Extensive Private Jet Expenditures During Tour
A review by Fox News Digital of Federal Election Commission filings reveals that the independent Vermont senator’s hefty spending on luxury air travel primarily took place in the first half of 2025, aligning with the bulk of stops on his “Fighting Oligarchy” tour alongside Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY).
In one notable instance in April, an exclusive photo captured Sanders boarding a high-end Bombardier Challenger jet at Meadows Field Airport in Bakersfield, California, between rallies, with a source reporting Ocasio-Cortez joining him.
Footage later showed the duo disembarking in Sacramento for another event that evening. Operated by Ventura Air Services, the Bombardier boasts one of the widest cabins among business jets, emphasizing superior comfort at rates up to $15,000 per hour.
Sanders’ campaign disbursed at least $354,000 to Ventura Jets alone that year, with additional funds going to N-Jet—known for its “personal touch” prioritizing style, luxury, comfort, and safety—and Cirrus Aviation Services.
Sanders’ Justification Clashes with Green Advocacy
As a prominent champion of the Green New Deal, which aggressively targets carbon emissions and fossil fuels, Sanders has repeatedly labeled climate change an “existential threat” to the planet. Yet, when queried about his reliance on private jets in 2025, he told Fox News’ Special Report host Bret Baier: “that’s the only way to get around.”
He elaborated: “You run a campaign, and you do three or four or five rallies in a week. [It is] the only way you can get around to talk to 30,000 people. You think I’m gonna be sitting on a waiting line at United … while 30,000 people are waiting?” Sanders added: “That’s the only way to get around. No apologies for that. That’s what campaign travel is about. We’ve done it in the past. We’re gonna do it in future.”
This stance persists despite critiques from environmentalists, including a 2021 Transport and Environment report noting that private jets can be up to 14 times more polluting than commercial flights. Even Ocasio-Cortez, his tour partner, once remarked on such travel: “For real, how many private jets do these CEOs need? It is insatiable. It is unacceptable.”
Pattern of Lavish Spending and Unanswered Questions
This isn’t Sanders’ first foray into upscale air travel; his 2020 presidential bid saw over $1.9 million funneled to private jet providers like Apollo Jets and Advanced Aviation Team. Conservative communications consultant Matt Gorman highlighted the irony, quipping: “You don’t expect a socialist to fly commercial do you?”
He continued: “There’s no bigger hypocrite than the liberal who chastises us for eating meat and using gas stoves, yet flies in private jets.”
Meanwhile, Ocasio-Cortez’s campaign racked up over $53,000 on stays at boutique and luxury hotels during the same tour period, including spots like The Leo Kent Hotel in Tucson, the Asher Adams Hotel in Salt Lake City, Hotel Vermont in Burlington, The Langham-Huntington in Pasadena, Hotel El Convento in San Juan, and the Lansdowne Resort & Spa in Virginia.
Fox News Digital sought comments from Sanders’ office and campaign on the jet outlays, as well as from Ocasio-Cortez’s team on her hotel expenditures, but received no responses.
These revelations continue to fuel debates over whether Sanders’ actions align with the egalitarian principles he champions, potentially undermining his credibility among eco-conscious supporters.
