Energy watchdog brands Bernie Sanders a ‘fake Socialist’ for flying private in CO2-spewing campaign trail

WASHINGTON, DC: Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders is under fire for the environmental toll of his “Fighting Oligarchy” tour, which included 16 private jet-fueled stops across the US.

According to energy advocacy group Power the Future, the carbon footprint of Sanders’ travel exceeded 62 metric tons of carbon emissions or CO2, comparable to burning over 62,000 pounds of coal or driving a gas-powered SUV 150,000 miles, reports Fox News.

Bernie Sanders called ‘a fake socialist’ for flying private while pushing fossil fuel penalties

The energy watchdog group estimated that Bernie Sanders' single tour produced more carbon dioxide emissions than what an average American emits over five years.

“Sen Sanders has voted for legislation punishing people for their carbon footprint and threatening fossil fuel executives with prison for climate change hysteria, but his personal actions demonstrate he’s just another limousine liberal, a fake socialist, unwilling to live what he wants to impose on you,” said Power the Future executive director Dan Turner.

“The climate movement is dead, and Bernie Sanders’ hypocrisy helped kill it.”

Sanders, who has previously advocated for strict climate regulations and even penalties for fossil fuel executives, defended his reliance on private aviation in a recent Fox News interview. “That’s the only way to get around,” he told anchor Bret Baier.

“No apologies for that. That's what campaign travel is about. We've done it in the past. We're gonna do it in the future.”

He added, “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?”

Power the Future pointed out that Sanders opted for a private jet on a trip from Washington, DC to Los Angeles, a route with plenty of commercial flight options available daily.

Federal Election Commission filings reveal Sanders’ campaign spent over $221,000 on private air travel during the first quarter of 2025, with charters from companies like Ventura Jets and Cirrus Aviation.

Bernie Sanders sparks controversy after defending private jet use 

Senator Bernie Sanders is at the center of public scrutiny after doubling down on his use of private jets during a Fox News interview. His defense ignited a heated online debate, with critics accusing the self-described democratic socialist of hypocrisy, particularly given his staunch stances on climate change and wealth inequality.

One user summed up, “Bernie Sanders is the definition of hypocrisy.”

“A multi millionaire who's too good to wait in line at the airport like the rest of us peasants and is instead flying around on private jets is 'fighting oligarchy' and climate change?” one wrote, while another added, “Not only is he flying around on a private jet screaming about climate change and oligarchy , but he's doing it with your taxpayer money while we're $37T in debt.”

Another commented, “Unless you're the president or the vice president, no politician should be able to fly around on a private jet at the expense of taxpayers.”

Frustration also centered around Sanders’ perceived arrogance and inconsistency: “Bernie Sanders still wonders why nobody takes him seriously.”

“He’s a little arrogant,” another wrote.

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