Overview

• Sen. Bernie Sanders publicly defended the $221,723 spent on private jet charters during the first quarter of 2025 for his 'Fighting Oligarchy' tour.
• Sanders stated that private jets are the only feasible way to conduct three to five rallies weekly and address tens of thousands of attendees efficiently.
• The tour, led by Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, has positioned them as prominent figures in the Democratic Party's progressive wing.
• Critics, including Republicans and moderate Democrats, have accused Sanders of hypocrisy, citing the conflict between his climate advocacy and reliance on high-emission travel.
• The tour has generated record-breaking grassroots fundraising, raising $9.6 million in Q1 2025, but has also sparked intra-party debate over messaging and strategy.