US 'Progressive Icon' Sanders: "Trump, Most Dangerous President... Must Not Be Re-elected"

Senator Bernie Sanders, a leading progressive politician in the United States, stated, "America is once again facing a critical historical moment," adding, "If Donald Trump, the most dangerous president in history, is re-elected, his second term will be worse than his first."

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Sanders, who is seeking a fourth term this November, made these claims in an op-ed titled "We Are at a Critical Moment in U.S. History. We Cannot Retreat," published on the 15th (local time) in The Guardian.

He first cited key moments in U.S. history such as the 1776 Declaration of Independence from British rule, the 1861 Civil War, and the 1929 Great Depression, stating, "Today, in 2024, America is once again at a critical historical moment. The crisis we face is enormous. The consequences of failure are unimaginable," he warned.

Specifically, Senator Sanders pointed out the corrupt political system in the U.S., noting that the current billionaire 1% wield enormous influence over the national economy and politics. He said, "Billionaires and their super PACs spend hundreds of millions of dollars to elect or defeat the candidates they favor," adding, "More than 90% of House elections and 80% of Senate elections are won by the candidates who spend the most money."

He also expressed concern over declining life expectancy and record-low birth rates. Furthermore, he warned that the climate crisis threatens the future of the planet. He predicted, "Unless carbon emissions are drastically reduced, droughts, floods, wildfires, mass migrations, and deaths caused by the climate crisis will continue to increase." Additionally, he noted that artificial intelligence (AI) is fundamentally transforming society, pointing out that "most jobs are likely to disappear within 15 years."

Senator Sanders expressed concern that "basic human rights that women have fought hard to secure are under attack," noting, "After the Supreme Court overturned the Roe v. Wade decision, 14 U.S. states have passed laws that almost completely ban abortion except in cases of rape or incest." He also criticized the U.S. for spending $1 trillion annually on military expenditures, stating, "hundreds of billions of dollars are supporting the horrific Gaza war waged by Benjamin Netanyahu's government in Israel." Currently, anti-war protests against the Gaza conflict are ongoing, especially on college campuses across the U.S.

Sanders said, "This is exactly where we stand. It is not a beautiful picture," adding, "People feel despair and exhaustion. They worry about the future of their children and grandchildren." He urged, "We cannot just turn away," and called for active participation in the 2024 elections (the November presidential and congressional elections).

As an independent, Sanders acknowledged, "I know President Joe Biden (a Democrat) is unpopular," and mentioned, "Many progressives, including myself, strongly oppose his policies regarding Israel's Gaza war." However, he emphasized, "To be clear, his opponent is Donald Trump, the most dangerous president in U.S. history."

He evaluated, "If former President Trump succeeds in being re-elected, his second term will be worse than his first," adding, "Even on his worst days, President Biden is a thousand times better than former President Trump."

Senator Sanders asked, "Are you worried about extreme wealth inequality and the collapse of the middle class?" He pointed out that "former President Trump wanted to give huge tax breaks to billionaires and appointed anti-union officials to high-ranking positions." He also noted that "President Biden was the first president to walk a picket line in support of striking United Auto Workers (UAW) laborers," and mentioned his efforts on infrastructure rebuilding, job creation, and student debt relief.

Regarding women's abortion rights, he explained, "Former President Trump boasts about appointing the three Supreme Court justices who overturned Roe v. Wade," while "President Biden supports (women's) right to choose." On the climate crisis, he noted that former President Trump called it a "hoax," whereas President Biden is recognized for investing more money in sustainable energy and energy efficiency than any other president in history.

Additionally, Sanders criticized President Biden's stance on the Israel-Gaza war but said, "Former President Trump is worse. At least President Biden has criticized Netanyahu." He added, "There is another issue: democracy," pointing out, "President Biden is a traditional American politician who believes in democracy and free elections, but former President Trump does not." He added, "Former President Trump and his supporters have undermined the rule of law and faith in democratic government."

Senator Sanders emphasized, "Clearly, our mission is not just the re-election of President Biden. It is more than that." He called for cooperation with those who understand the need to defeat former President Trump and the far-right Republicans, arguing, "This is not just because former President Trump is 'worse,' but because the future of our democracy is at risk if he is elected."

He also urged President Biden and the Democratic Party to campaign on progressive agendas, calling for healthcare, fair taxation of billionaires, raising the minimum wage, solving the housing crisis, and strengthening public education. He stressed, "We must create a government that works for everyone, not just a few." He concluded, "This is not the time to despair or be cynical," urging, "We must stand up, organize, and fight together."

Senator Sanders, a symbol of the progressive camp in the U.S., recently officially announced his bid for a fourth term. At 82 years old this year, he is one year older than President Biden. He currently serves as the chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee. He has consistently advocated for reducing economic and racial inequalities in American society.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.