Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) abruptly ended an interview with ABC News on Sunday after pushing back on a question about Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s (D-NY) potential political future in the U.S. Senate.
The exchange unfolded during an interview with This Week host Jonathan Karl, who asked Sanders whether he would like to see Ocasio-Cortez—commonly known as AOC—join him in the upper chamber of Congress.
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“Would you like to see her join you in the Senate?” Karl asked. Sanders, visibly annoyed, dismissed the question. “I said, just a whole lot of people in the Congress. OK, Jonathan, thanks,” he replied, as he began to rise from his seat to leave.
Karl attempted to salvage the moment and pressed on. “Wait, I got one more — I got one more. This is an important…” he began. But Sanders cut him off. “No, you want to do nonsense. Do nonsense,” the senator snapped. “I don’t want to talk about inside-the-beltway stuff.”
Karl defended the question, noting that Ocasio-Cortez had recently appeared alongside Sanders at major events, sparking speculation about her political ambitions. “I was just asking you about AOC because she was out there with you,” Karl said.
“Well, you know, fine, but I don’t want to talk about this,” Sanders insisted, clearly uninterested in diving into what he considers political speculation. Despite his frustration, Sanders stayed for one final question—this time about his own future in politics. When asked whether he plans to seek reelection or pursue another office, Sanders offered a candid and grounded response.
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“Right now, I’m Vermont’s senator. That’s what I do. And I’m very happy to do it. I am 83 years of age. So — and I’m tired,” he said, ending the interview with a note of honesty and weariness.
Sanders, a longtime progressive leader, has consistently pushed back on political gossip and what he refers to as “inside the beltway” distractions. His reaction underscores his focus on policy and working-class issues over political maneuvering.
The moment quickly circulated on social media, drawing both praise from supporters who admire Sanders’ no-nonsense style and criticism from others who felt the question about Ocasio-Cortez was valid given her rising national profile.
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