On Sunday, August 2nd, 2026, Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) drew a clear contrast between the policies of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani (D) and President Donald Trump, responding to recent criticisms of socialism following a wave of democratic socialist primary victories.

Speaking to online progressive commentator Jack Cocchiarella on MeidasTouch’s “On Sunday” YouTube show, Sanders said, “Trump cuts funding for childcare, Mamdani thinks that we should have free and universal childcare.” He also noted Mamdani’s efforts to build low-income and affordable housing in New York City.

Sanders further criticized Trump’s foreign policy, stating that Mamdani opposes “the endless wars that are being fought right now through Trump, as well as the extremist Israeli government and their genocidal policies in Gaza,” while Trump supports Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

“Who do you think is on the side of the American people on these issues?” Sanders asked, adding, “I think what we are talking about is where the American people want us to be.”

Sanders accused Trump and his allies of creating a “boogeyman of communism” to attack democratic socialists who have been winning against incumbent Democrats.

Meanwhile, Trump, his conservative allies, and many mainstream Democrats have dismissed the growing influence of democratic socialists advancing toward the fall midterms.

Prominent progressive Twitch streamer Hasan Piker, who has campaigned for candidates like Michigan Senate hopeful Abdul El-Sayed (D), pointed to significant Democratic losses to Trump in 2016 and 2024 as evidence that voters desire change. Piker said in a preview for CNN’s “The Whole Story with Anderson Cooper,” airing Sunday night, “There are a lot of people who are just like, ‘This is not working.'”

However, some Democrats remain skeptical about the democratic socialist movement’s reach. Representative Ritchie Torres (D-N.Y.) questioned whether it represents a majority of the party. Political commentator James Carville stated on Fox News’s “The Sunday Briefing” that post-Michigan election, he would not remain in the same party as Hasan Piker.

Sources