Senator Bernie Sanders has come under fire for spending over $221,000 on private jet travel during the first quarter of 2025, coinciding with his “Fighting Oligarchy” tour—a campaign aimed at challenging billionaire influence and promoting progressive policies. Federal Election Commission filings reveal that Sanders’ campaign committee, Friends of Bernie Sanders, made payments to three private jet charter firms: Cirrus Aviation Services, N-Jet, and Ventura Jets. These expenses accounted for nearly 75% of the campaign’s transportation costs during that period.
The tour, which began in February 2025, featured rallies across the United States, including a notable event in Tucson, Arizona, that drew a crowd of 20,000 people. Sanders and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who joined him on the tour, utilized a Bombardier Challenger 604—a luxury aircraft costing approximately $15,000 per hour to charter—for their travels.
Critics have highlighted the apparent contradiction between Sanders’ environmental advocacy and his use of private jets, which are known for their substantial carbon emissions. The campaign has previously addressed such concerns by purchasing carbon offsets to mitigate the environmental impact of private air travel, per news reports.
Despite the backlash, Sanders’ campaign maintains that the use of private jets was necessary to meet the demanding schedule of the tour, which aimed to engage supporters and promote policies such as Medicare for All and wealth taxation. The campaign’s website solicits donations to fund what it describes as “modest” travel expenses, emphasizing its grassroots support and distancing itself from billionaire contributions.
As the tour continues, the debate over the alignment between Sanders’ rhetoric and campaign practices remains a point of contention among supporters and critics alike. But critics continue to slam Sanders because this isn’t the first time he’s spent a lot of money on private jet use.
In October 2018, Sanders’ campaign spent nearly $300,000 on private jet travel for a nine-day, nine-state tour supporting Democratic candidates ahead of the midterm elections. The campaign justified this expenditure by stating that the rigorous schedule necessitated private flights to reach multiple events efficiently.
To address environmental concerns, the campaign purchased carbon offsets from Native Energy, aiming to mitigate the emissions produced by these flights.
During a 2020 appearance on *The Late Show with Stephen Colbert*, Sanders acknowledged his use of private jets, explaining that the demands of campaigning, including attending Senate impeachment trials and events in early voting states, required such travel. He expressed openness to sharing flights with other candidates to reduce costs and environmental impact.
Critics argue that Sanders’ use of private jets contradicts his strong stance on combating climate change. Supporters contend that the logistical challenges of campaigning justify the use of private air travel, especially when efforts are made to offset carbon emissions.
As Sanders continues to advocate for environmental reforms, his travel choices remain a topic of discussion regarding the balance between practical campaign needs and environmental responsibility.
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