Senator Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., had some mixed feelings about President Biden’s recent decision to pardon his son, Hunter Biden, despite initially saying he wouldn’t. In an interview with NBC’s Kristen Welker on Sunday, Sanders shared his thoughts.
On one hand, Sanders understands why Biden would want to protect his family. “When you have opponents going after your family, as a parent, I think we can all get where Biden is coming from,” Sanders explained. “He’s just trying to look out for his son.” But on the other hand, he raised a concern about the broader implications. “The precedent here could be dangerous,” Sanders cautioned, noting that this kind of sweeping pardon could create issues for future presidents.
Still, Sanders believes Biden is leaving behind a strong legacy. He praised Biden for being progressive on domestic policies and said, “The economy today, in many ways, is in strong shape.” Sanders even went as far as to say Biden might be the most progressive president since Franklin D. Roosevelt.
When it came to the minimum wage, Sanders was clear about his stance. He told Welker that he’d be willing to work with President-elect Trump to raise it, pointing out that it’s been stuck at $7.25 an hour since 2009. While Welker noted that Trump had acknowledged the wage is too low, Sanders reminded her that he tried to push for a $15 minimum wage two years ago—and not a single Republican voted for it.
In all, Sanders seems committed to advancing progressive policies while recognizing the delicate balance Biden has to maintain as a father and a president.
