Fact Check: Did Bernie Sanders slam socialism and claim he owns three houses and two boats?

WASHINGTON, DC: A rumor has been circulating on social media platforms claiming that socialist Democratic Senator Bernie Sanders has slammed socialism and said that communists are the most easily manipulated people.

The claim has sparked mockery and speculation, prompting a fact-check as many question whether the rumor is real.

Claim: Bernie Sanders slams socialism

According to a viral post that appeared on X, Sanders was caught on a hot mic on Saturday talking about what he really thinks about the socialism he so desperately pushes for. 

"These people don't understand what it means," Sanders allegedly said. "I have three houses and two boats. And they think I'm really one of them?"

He went on to trash his own base, calling communists "the most easily manipulated people in America." 

"Tell them they'll get something for free, and they're all in." 

The post has garnered tens of thousands of views as of this writing, with many appearing to believe it to be an authentic statement by the senator, while a few others remained skeptical and called for a fact check.

Fact Check: Bernie Sanders made no such statement

However, the claim is false, as there are no records of the socialist Senator slamming his own ideology and calling communists ‘manipulated people.’

There are no official statements, press conferences, recent interviews, or social media posts from Sanders that support the claim, although he has admitted owning three houses in 2024.

If he had really made such a remark, it would not only go unreported by prominent news media outlets, but would have even made headlines. But a search on Google and other search engines for the claim yielded no credible results. 

Moreover, the claim originated from an account that is not credible, and though not explicitly a parody account, it has posted several such fake and unverified claims for the sake of engagement.

Bernie Sanders push for wealth tax on billionaires

The claim surfaced after Sanders, in August this year, renewed his push for a federal wealth tax, arguing that imposing a levy on the nation’s richest Americans is essential to funding sweeping social programs for working families. 

In a social media post, he wrote, “THE BILLIONAIRES MUST PAY THEIR FAIR SHARE OF TAXES. While the very rich are getting richer, working families are struggling to afford health care, housing, groceries and other basic necessities. In the midst of unprecedented income and wealth inequality, the billionaire class must start paying their fair share of taxes.”