Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) criticized President Donald Trump for his actions toward Wall Street, saying that he’d abandoned the populist rhetoric he used while on the campaign trail.
“You know, it is hard not to laugh to see President Trump alongside these Wall Street guys,” Sanders told CNN’s Jake Tapper. “I have to say this, Jake. And I don’t mean to be disrespectful. This guy is a fraud.”
During the 2016 presidential campaign, Trump repeatedly attacked his rival, Hillary Clinton, for her ties to Wall Street, promising to “drain the swamp” in Washington. Since then, he’s assembled an economic team that draws heavily on Goldman Sachs alumni and laid out a deregulation-friendly agenda.
“This guy ran for president of the United States saying, ‘I, Donald Trump, I’m going to take on Wall Street. These guys are getting away with murder,’” Sanders said. “And then, suddenly, he appoints all these billionaires. His major financial adviser comes from Goldman Sachs. And now he is going to dismantle legislation that protects consumers.”
“This is a guy who ran for president saying, ‘I’m going ― I’m the only Republican, I’m not going to cut Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid,’” Sanders continued. “And then he appoints all of these guys who are precisely going to cut Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid.”
On Friday, Trump signed executive orders intended to roll back some of the Obama administration’s financial regulations.
“You know, he’s a good showman,” Sanders said. “I will give you that. He’s a good TV guy.”