Sanders hits back at Trump’s attack on ‘socialized medicine’

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) lashed out at President Trump in a new video Friday, criticizing the president for attacking “socialized medicine” during the presidential debate this week against Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden.

“Last night during the debate, Donald Trump attacked ‘Medicare for All’ as socialized medicine, and what I find very amusing is that I didn’t hear him complain when he received the best socialized medical care in the world for free at a 100 percent government-run hospital,” Sanders said in the video shared to Twitter.

“What we have is a Donald Trump who loves, enjoys benefits from socialism for himself,” Sanders continued. “But for the rest of us, he wants rugged individualism.”

Last night, Trump attacked “socialized medicine.”

Funny. I didn’t hear him complain when he received the best socialized medical care in the world for free at a 100% government-run hospital. pic.twitter.com/RHZ8Ro2ZG9

— Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) October 24, 2020

The video features footage of the president complimenting the medical care he received at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center after testing positive for COVID-19 as well as footage of Trump during the Thursday debate and more.

In one clip Trump, is seen saying, “You know, I have such great access to medical” and “It’s good to be president, I guess.” 

Trump during the Thursday debate accused Biden of wanting to eliminate private health insurance.

“Under what he wants to do, which will basically be socialized medicine, he won’t even have a choice. They want to terminate 180 million plans,” Trump said.  

Later, he also claimed that vice presidential nominee Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) has pushed for “socialized medicine.”

“He wants socialized medicine. And it’s not that he wants it. His vice president, she is more liberal than Bernie Sanders and wants it even more. Bernie Sanders wants it. The Democrats want it,” Trump said. 

The Biden campaign’s plan for health care reform does not back removing private health insurance plans. Instead, Biden’s health plan will build on ObamaCare and will include a government-run “public option” that is similar to Medicare.

A public option would compete with private health care plans to give users the best prices, and patients could choose whether they want to enroll.

Biden during the debate responded, “I support private insurance. Not one single person with private insurance would lose their insurance under my plan.”

This is not the first time Sanders has hit back at Trump over the attacks. Earlier this month, the senator tweeted, “Mr. President: You attack ‘socialized medicine’ every single day. Well, let’s be clear. The excellent care you received at Walter Reed was at a 100% government-funded, government run hospital. For Trump, ‘socialized medicine’ is bad for everyone but himself. Total hypocrisy!” 

Mr. President: You attack “socialized medicine” every single day. Well, let’s be clear. The excellent care you received at Walter Reed was at a 100% government-funded, government run hospital. For Trump, “socialized medicine” is bad for everyone but himself. Total hypocrisy!

— Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) October 6, 2020