Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) was photographed flying first class on a week ago and was heavily criticized for it in some circles because it seemed like hypocrisy for a self-identified socialist to travel in a higher class of service than the proletariat, even though it’s hardly unusual and taxpayer funds wouldn’t have been used for more than coach.
However there’s a new controversy brewing about that flight – what happened to the passenger that was photographed sitting next to the Senator.
HYPOCRISY ON FULL DISPLAY: Millionaire socialist @BernieSanders
caught living large in Delta First Class, jetting out of DC like royalty — while TSA workers he helped screw over go without paychecks amid the Democrat-fueled DHS shutdown.📸 @TMZ pic.twitter.com/ysAT9OLrFP
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) March 27, 2026
Sanders often travels first class. His campaign committee disclosures also reveal paying for private jets. Taxpayer funds would only be used to purchase coach tickets. He’s likely an American AAdvantage status member, flying out of close-in Washington National where American Airlines has a hub, and he may receive upgrades.
Here Sanders was flying Delta on an Airbus A220 to Minneapolis, to speak at a ‘No Kings’ rally. He doesn’t appear to fly Delta as often so it’s likely this was a paid ticket, covered by his campaign committee or another pot of money other than his taxpayer-funded congressional office.
The man photographed beside the Senator in first class, though, appears to have been bmped back to a coach seat, and “someone from the senator’s team was later spotted where the man was sitting” up front.
The source on the Delta flight who tipped us off on the incident noticed a younger guy who was part of Sanders’ travel party pacing back and forth between first class and the middle of the cabin. They said the passenger who had been sitting next to Bernie was quietly walked down the aisle by flight attendants and told he could pick any seat he wanted. He was relocated to seat 16B.
There’s a photo of the man seated in 16B later in the flight. While this may not violate Delta’s pledge to suspend VIP perks for Congress during the partial government shutdown, that’s another angle of eyebrow raise over the report. All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others. Remember that even North Korea’s Air Koryo has a business class.
We don’t know why that passenger, originally in first class, was moved back to coach. He was reportedly told he could “pick any seat he wanted.” We don’t know if he was compensated. We don’t know whether that original passenger had been erroneously upgraded into the Senator’s aide’s paid seat, or even if the passenger offered to switch as a courtesy to the Senator.
(HT: @crucker)
Very interesting. I am sure Senator Bernie “of the little people” Sanders had nothing to do with what appears to be a black passenger being moved away from the adjacent seat. Never forget we are all equal, some just a little more equal.
“We don’t know why that passenger, originally in first class, was moved back to coach”….so what exactly is the story, here?
If Bernie ever won and became president he would end up like Obama and Trump. Too many loser Americans think electing some sheister is gonna make their lives better. But only THEY can make their lives better and too many Americans are too STUPID and lazy to rise.
I can’t wait till indians replace them for half the wage. Start with those broads at Starbucks that went on strike. I was and still am insulted that a foid that just sits there and pours coffee all day thinks she’s entitled to free healthcare and childcare. No! Replace her with a Guatemalan immigrant for half the wage.
@Michael Mainello — Ah, when it’s the rich stealing from the poor, not paying their fair share, shipping their ill-gotten gains overseas untaxed, naw, naw, that reverse-Robin Hood is ‘just doin’ business.’ But, when it’s your perceived political opponent gettin’ upgraded by the airline, no, no, that’s FASCISM and COMMUNISM, you see. And, if no one buys that bull, let’s make it about race! Truly a master class, sir. *slow clap*
I think we should all make out assumptions and get mad NOW!
He like AOC are total frauds. And BTW so is Trump. The difference is that many of us are now calling out Trump as a fraud. Yet people cling onto Sanders and AOC like they’re heroes. Both somehow became millionaires making a $175K a year. As someone in that ballpark of a salary I hope they would share their strategy for making $175K turn into $5 million a year because I certainly haven’t figured it out.
The problem with Bernie (and his ilk) isn’t where he sat, and that one sat, and so on and so on…
It’s a very serious problem of a group with radical, out-of-reality most part thoughts, and very dangerous ideas to people’s lives.
Then you get Trumpism as a reactionary response…
America (unfortunately) is in serious trouble. More than I think a lot of Americans understand. It’s going very much the way Western Europe has gone. They’re already fallen empires, now in the stage of self-destruction, while America is further down the road – it’s a falling Empire, not yet fallen, but definitely going strong in that vector.
He’s usually on someone private jet before he might go to one of his Three Homes! Remember socialism is for thee not for me! Even though I pretend to be a Dem/socialist
“All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others” is more relevant than ever.
Just not a good look………..
Weekend at Bernies is a total lying POS. He cares nothing about working and middle class people.
Bernie normally jets on private aircraft like climate moron John Kerry. On his way to PROM (People’s Republic of Minneapolis) to speak at the No Kings rally. Riddle me this, how can the Demos, who can’t identify what a female is, identify a King?
@1990 – Swing and a miss, a master class in deflection. I was just wonder why Bernie had a black man moved. The taxes etc is your projecting. Everyone should follow the law and to my knowledge our current duly elected president has not been fined by the irs or state for not paying taxes. Even his trumped-up felonies which were misdemeanors, did not trigger a tax penalty or fine.
Nice try, but update your AI program or work on reading the comment.
Happy Easter on Sunday, He Has Risen!
(Just in case my original comment does not post)
@1990 – Swing and a miss, a master class in deflection. I was just wonder why the senator had a black man moved. The taxes etc is your projecting. Everyone should follow the law and to my knowledge our current duly elected president has not been fined by the irs or state revenue for not paying taxes. Even his questionable felonies which were misdemeanors, did not trigger a tax penalty or fine. Nice try, but update your programming or work on reading the comment.
@Gary – need a bit more facts on this before reporting. For all we know, the displaced pax got a large travel credit from DL – tey are known for not bumping without good compensation. Or the pax and Bernie reached an amiable arrangement. No evidence of Dr. Dao here. So, really no story unless you’re calling out Bernie for hypocracy (old news).
But the real problem here is that the post unleashes a torrent of half baked, racist (in some cases) political vituperation that has nothing to do with the issue. I frankly don’t care what others’ politics are, and I’m sure they don’t care what mine are.
Passover, Good Friday…slow day click bait…You can do better Gary
you admit you don’t know anything yet spread innuendo and calumny. I know Maxine Walters pressures gate agents to upgrade her free of charge, but you don’t know anything useful about Sander’s circumstances. Go work for Fox News. Shame on you.
Under socialism, all are equal, but some are more equal than others. Let this be a lesson for the wanna-be commies out there!
You want Socialism? Be prepared for the middle seat or the back of the bus. Only those in Power will get First Class while they take everything else from you.
This story has similarities with how SNL alum Jim Breuer and wife were recently bumped from American Airlines First Class so Jim’s seat could be given to one of their pilots. If the Delta passenger was mistreated, I want them to make a lot of noise about it. I don’t like it when airlines change reserved seats to play favorites.
We get it, Gary. You’ve got a libertarian perspective on everything.
I’m not sure 16B is a middle on an A220 with Delta.
I still find it ironic that Bernie Sanders has been in office longer than most monarchs were, yet he was at a “No Kings” protest. A king has total control of their kingdom. Socialism requires the same thing, but a government doing so.
The optics of any politician flying in a premium cabin right now just looks really, REALLY bad. Even if it was a free upgrade due to status, one would hope their intellect would override their egos and go “yeah, I should pass on that and fly in premium economy/exit row” instead.
@All Due Respect — So outraged. Teehee.
@George Romey — You want to talk about fraud? My goodness, the current administration is pocketing billions of dollars, personally, and folks like you think Bernie or AOC are the problem. Whoosh.
@Michael Mainello — You think I’m deflecting? Bah! Tell us more about the plight of the black man…
@Anon, @American — By ‘socialism’ recall public roads, schools, and the military. Ya know… not privately owned, but certainly enables our collective security and prosperity.
Call it whatever you want, but, sure would be nice if we could just have La Compagnie for everything… affordable lie-flat for everyone… (one can dream).
Had the Delta passenger informed the gate agent they were Ed’s significant other then they could have remained in First. Works for me…
King Bernie should be upgraded to a one way ticket to North Korea
Lots of “we don’t know”, “appears”, and “reportedly” in this article.
Perhaps don’t write an article with so many unknowns.
@1990 – “You think I’m deflecting? Bah! Tell us more about the plight of the black man…” Yes you are deflecting and yes you continue to deflect. You arevery consistent in flailing around.