The Weird Obsession with Flying First-Class Among America’s Anti-Capitalists
Posted For: stormykitteh
TMZ reported Friday that Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont was flying first class out of Reagan National Airport yesterday afternoon, even as the government shutdown continues. Sanders has been associated with socialist politics for roughly 50 years. He was active in the Liberty Union Party in Vermont during the 1970s, served as mayor of Burlington in 1981, and by the time he entered Congress in 1991, he was widely recognized as a democratic socialist.
.@TMZ making sure you saw Democrat socialist Bernie Sanders living large on his first class flight out of DC while he forces Americans to go without pay. pic.twitter.com/Nq2KxTtMC1
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) March 27, 2026
Bernie Sanders and AOC disembark from a private jet to go ‘fight oligarchy’… Sanders has spent over $220,000 on jets so far this year. Full story here: https://t.co/olQCyWvlRh pic.twitter.com/WMqsApkoGF
— m o d e r n i t y (@ModernityNews) April 18, 2025

Last year, Sanders and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez were seen traveling the country on private jets costing over $15,000 per hour while campaigning against billionaires. More recently, Code Pink’s Medea Benjamin, connected to a network tied to China-based billionaire Neville Roy Singham, flew first class to Cuba to praise the Communist government in Havana.
Critics point out that these politicians, who frequently speak against capitalism and promote support for the working class, often enjoy luxurious travel and first-class accommodations. Observers see this as a striking contrast between their public rhetoric and personal lifestyles.