Trump Says He Thinks Bernie Sanders Is a Communist

President Donald Trump arrives for a signing ceremony for the United States-Mexico-Canada Trade Agreement on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, on Jan. 29, 2020. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

Based on what Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) has done and said, President Donald Trump believes he’s a communist.

During an interview that broadcast before Super Bowl LIV on Feb. 2, Trump was asked about his thoughts on leading Democratic presidential candidates, including Sanders, 78.

“I think he’s a communist. I mean, you know, look, I think of communism when I think of Bernie,” Trump, 73, told Fox News host Sean Hannity.

“Now, you could say socialist, but didn’t he get married in Moscow?”

Hannity corrected Trump, noting that Sanders honeymooned in the former Soviet Union but did not get married there, before the president continued.

Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) speaks to Iowa voters at the Ames City Auditorium in Ames, Iowa, on Jan. 25, 2020. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)

“I think of Bernie sort of as a socialist but far beyond a socialist,” Trump said. “At least he’s true to what he believes.”

Sanders is a self-described socialist. His campaign didn’t respond to a request for comment.

Trump has criticized the Democratic National Committee in recent weeks over alleged attempts to keep Sanders from winning the Democratic primary.

On Jan. 23, Trump wrote that Sanders took the lead in the primary “but it is looking more and more like the Dems will never allow him to win!” On Feb. 2, Trump denigrated former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, before claiming the billionaire was “getting the DNC to rig the election against Crazy Bernie.”

Trump was referring to a rule change that appeared to pave the way for Bloomberg, 77, to appear in a debate for the first time.

Michael Bloomberg speaks during an event to open a campaign office at Eastern Market in Detroit, Michigan, on Dec. 21, 2019. (Jeff Kowalsky/AFP via Getty Images)

The president was also asked about other Democratic candidates a day before the Iowa caucuses. He said little about former Vice President Joe Biden, 77, calling him “sleepy” before saying that Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), 70, “can’t tell the truth,” referencing Warren’s ill-fated attempt to claim Native American heritage.

Trump attacked Bloomberg, 77, over the business owner’s height, claiming that Bloomberg “wants a box for the debates to stand on.”

“The other thing that’s very interesting, Cory Booker and all these people couldn’t get any of the things that Bloomberg is getting now. I think it’s very unfair for the Democrats,” Trump added, referring again to the debate rule change.

“But I would love to run against Bloomberg. I would love it,” Trump said.

Trump and Bloomberg also aired dueling commercials during the Super Bowl, with Trump focusing on his efforts in the criminal justice reform arena, and Bloomberg promising to end gun violence if he was elected president.