When it comes to Trump, Sanders finds common ground with the Cheneys

Sen. Bernie Sanders said Sunday he disagrees with former Vice President Dick Cheney and former Rep. Liz Cheney on many topics, but not on their belief that Donald Trump should never become president again.

Speaking on NBC's "Meet the Press," the Vermont senator said, "What I think Dick and Liz Cheney are saying is that in this existential moment in American history, it's not just issues. Cheney and I agree on nothing — no issues. But what we do believe in is that the United States should retain its democratic foundations."

Sanders added: "I applaud the Cheneys for their courage in defending democracy. Obviously, on all the issues we have very different points of view."

Last week, the Cheneys both said they would cross party lines to vote for Vice President Kamala Harris as president, rather than Trump.

“As citizens, we each have a duty to put country above partisanship to defend our Constitution. That is why I will be casting my vote for Vice President Kamala Harris,” Dick Cheney said in a statement Friday. Speaking Sunday on ABC's "This Week," former Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) referred to Trump as "somebody who was willing to use violence in order to attempt to seize power."

Knowing that Sanders was set to appear after him on "Meet the Press," North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum suggested that host Kristen Welker ask Sanders about the endorsements, given that Dick Cheney in particular had long been the target of mockery and scorn from liberals. "Now, overnight, they're embracing him," said Burgum, a Republican who is backing Trump.

Welker said she would ask.

Trump mocked the Cheneys last week, writing on Truth Social: “Dick Cheney is an irrelevant RINO, along with his daughter, who lost by the largest margin in the History of Congressional Races!”

While officially listed as an independent when it comes to the Senate, Sanders remains perhaps the most progressive voice in that body. Speaking Sunday, Sanders said that while he has some specific policy differences with Harris, he does still consider the Democratic nominee to be progressive as well.

Sanders also told Welker that "maybe the most important issue" remains the need to reduce the influence the wealthiest Americans have on the government.

"Look, you have one vote. The average American has one vote," he said. "But billionaires could start a super PAC and put hundreds of millions of dollars, tens of millions of dollars into defeating the people they don't like and supporting the people they do like. That is not democracy. That is oligarchy."