Sen. Bernie Sanders on the Trump Administration's Coronavirus Missteps, Greed, Grandkids

-We should talk about

coronavirus

, if you don't mind. I just don't know how to... You know, I watch the news. I read the news. And I just don't know who to really trust. I'm listening... -That's the problem we have today. We have a president who is anti-science, who does not believe in the reality of climate change, who has appointed Mike Pence, who is also not known for being a great scientist... ...to lead the task force. And clearly, right now you need someone you can trust, who will bring together the best scientists, doctors and researchers and who will work with everyone to do everything possible to stop this terrible pandemic.

And I think, clearly, there are some things we need to do immediately. The idea that we have so many people in this country - the only country on Earth, a major country, that does not guarantee health care to all people - is that we have to make sure that now everyone feels free when they are sick to go to the doctor regardless of their income. And you know what? The government will foot that bill. Number two, we are the only major country in the world that does not guarantee paid medical leave. So if you can believe it, there are people who are sick today who may actually believe that they have

coronavirus

symptoms and that they are going to work because they have no income.

They earn 12 or 13 dollars an hour. They came to feed their families. They go to work. We need to do what every other country on Earth does: ensure paid family and medical leave and do it right now in case of emergency. There was a discussion recently: a lot of work is being done globally in terms of a vaccine. And the Trump

administration

was saying, "Well, we can't guarantee it's affordable. We have to worry about the pharmaceutical companies." Well, that's nonsense. That's ridiculous. We have to make sure that when that vaccine comes out, it's available to everyone in this country, regardless of income. -That Mike Pence is in charge of this is very interesting for many people because they think that he is going to take the blame, take the hit, because I think this is a disaster.

And then they'll say that Trump will have Nikki Haley on his list of candidates for 2020. What are you hearing in your...? -Well, you know, ultimately it is the responsibility of the president of the United States. And why would you appoint a vice president to run this whose particular record with respect to science, with respect to the HIV virus, has been pretty pathetic? What needs to be done to give confidence to the American people is to bring together the best minds in the country and the world. As a leader, that's what you can do. And don't turn this into politics.

Don't start attacking the Democrats. This is not only absurd, it is demoralizing for the American people. -The last time we spoke, your face lit up when I mentioned your grandchildren. -Yeah. -How many grandchildren do you have? -I have seven very beautiful grandchildren. -How old... Uh... How old is the oldest grandson? 60? 63? -Near. -Thank you so much. -He is 16 years old, I think. -Oh, 16. So she knows what's going on in the world and she knows the problems and what the president does. -Yeah. -And she probably has opinions. She can't vote, but she has opinions. -Yes, we drag them to many rallies. -Yeah.

What they want? What is your concern? And what is the future of our grandchildren? -I think, you know... And one of the reasons I'm running for president is because of my grandchildren and the children of all this country and all over the world. And, you know, as the richest country in the history of the world, Jimmy, you don't hear it much on TV, but there shouldn't be half a million people sleeping on the streets of America tonight. Half our people should not be living paycheck to paycheck. 87 million should not lack the health care they need. All of our children deserve a quality education, regardless of the zip code in which they live.

We must lead the world in the fight against climate change. We have to put an end to the racist and failed criminal justice system and a completely broken immigration system where today people are terrified and are going to be arrested by ICE. There is a lot to do in this country, and we are the richest country in the history of the world, but we have to deal with this

greed

that exists. It is not acceptable for three people to own more wealth than the bottom half of America. It is not acceptable for the top 1% to own more wealth than the bottom 92%.

Look, no one has a problem with people being rich, but we have to address not only this incredible and unfair distribution of income and wealth. It is also power. They are billionaires who wield incredible political influence. They buy and sell politicians. They make huge contributions to the campaign. If we honestly believe that we are a democracy, we have to end the multi-billion dollar government in this country and create an economy and government that works for all of us. That's what we have to do. -Senator Bernie Sanders. Senator Bernie Sanders, thank you very much for being here.