In recent weeks, President Donald Trump has sent out several tweets accusing the Democratic National Committee (DNC) of trying to rig the presidential primary to prevent Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) from winning the nomination.
Democrats are working hard to destroy the name and reputation of Crazy Bernie Sanders, and take the nomination away from him!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 1, 2020
They are rigging the election again against Bernie Sanders, just like last time, only even more obviously. They are bringing him out of so important Iowa in order that, as a Senator, he sit through the Impeachment Hoax Trial. Crazy Nancy thereby gives the strong edge to Sleepy…
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 17, 2020
In an interview on ABC News’ “This Week,” on Sunday, host George Stephanopolous suggested that Trump was trying to help Sanders win the nomination. He noted that Republican operatives were pushing Republican voters to participate in South Carolina’s open primary and vote for Sanders.
Sanders said he does not want help from the president in the primary contest, “I don’t accept his help. I’m going to do everything I can to defeat Donald Trump.”
Watch the interview below:
“The president seems to be going out of his way to help you … do you accept his help?” @GStephanopoulos asks Sanders in reference to recent Trump tweets.
— This Week (@ThisWeekABC) March 1, 2020
Sanders: “No, I don’t accept his help. I'm going to do everything I can to defeat Donald Trump.” https://t.co/wGwD0uWZ3e pic.twitter.com/hM4hzn0JE6
Additionally, Sanders slammed Trump’s decision to hold a rally in South Carolina on Friday even though there was not a Republican primary taking place in that state.
“In the midst of this coronavirus, a real threat to our country and the world. All over the world, governments are trying to figure out how they can deal with this crisis. Do you know where Donald Trump was the other day? He was in South Carolina trying to undermine the Democratic primary. He has no opposition in South Carolina. That’s why he was there.”
“How pathetic is it that in the midst of an international healthcare crisis, you got a president running into South Carolina trying to steal some media attention away from Democrats,” Sanders added.
He continued to claim that Trump’s campaign advisers are “afraid” of Sanders winning the nomination.
While some Republicans believe a Sanders nomination would be a boon for their election chances across the board, others worry that the self-declared democratic socialist could pose more of a threat to Trump.