Bernie Sanders and AOC Take On Trump, Musk, and Even Their Own Party in Fiery Western Rallies

Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York—two of the loudest voices on the left—kicked off a fiery three-day tour through key battleground states, targeting not just former President Donald Trump and his billionaire ally Elon Musk, but even their own Democratic Party.

Speaking to packed arenas, the duo lambasted Trump for his recent executive orders, which Sanders claimed are evidence of a move towards oligarchy. "Every day Trump is trying to take power away from Congress and the judiciary," Sanders declared, adding, "We will not allow you and your friend Mr. Musk to wreak havoc on this country." The "friend" jab at Musk felt like a direct pitchfork to the billionaires' club.

Ocasio-Cortez didn’t hold back either, accusing Trump and his allies of "lying to and screwing over working and middle-class Americans" to benefit the ultra-wealthy. She specifically called out Republicans for targeting programs like Social Security and veterans' benefits to fund tax cuts and bailouts for billionaires.

But here's where the plot thickens: AOC turned some of her fire inward, addressing frustrations with the Democratic Party's inability to effectively counter Trump and the GOP. "We need a Democratic Party that fights harder for us," she told a crowd in Arizona. "That means choosing and voting for Democrats who know how to stand for the working class." For a party already feeling the heat, this was a not-so-subtle nudge to toughen up.

The rallies drew massive crowds, with over 11,300 people reportedly packing into the Mullett Arena at Arizona State University, while thousands more stood outside. Sanders aptly dubbed the tour "Fighting Oligarchy," as the pair traveled through Las Vegas, Denver, Greeley, and Tucson, rallying progressives and drawing attention to growing tensions within their own ranks.

Meanwhile, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has become a lightning rod of criticism from the left, especially after his support for a Republican-led funding bill that avoided a government shutdown. While neither Sanders nor Ocasio-Cortez mentioned Schumer directly, the crowd in Las Vegas made their discontent clear with chants of "Primary Chuck." The sentiment was echoed by attendees like Cindy Garman and Amanda Ratloff, who called for stronger Democratic leadership.

Sanders, ever the fighter, ended his speech with a rallying cry: "We are going to fight Trump and his oligarchy friends. From the bottom of my heart, I am convinced that they can be defeated." With rhetoric this charged, it’s clear the progressive wing isn’t just fighting Republicans—they’re shaking the table within their own party too.