Senator Bernie Sanders offered rare praise for President Donald Trump during an interview with Axios, conceding that Trump “isn’t stupid” and recognizes what “many Democrats don’t.”

“Trump understood that there are millions of people who are hurting, who are disgusted with the system,” Sanders said. “And in many ways he said, ‘I will fix it.’”

The comments underscore a striking acknowledgment from one of Trump’s longtime critics — that the former president successfully connected with disillusioned Americans who felt abandoned by political elites. While Sanders stopped short of endorsing Trump’s policies, his statement highlights the growing recognition, even among progressives, that Trump’s populist message continues to resonate deeply with working-class voters.

Trump’s appeal among middle- and lower-income Americans has been a cornerstone of his political strength since 2016, when his campaign upended traditional party coalitions by winning key battleground states once dominated by Democrats. Sanders’ admission reinforces the idea that many voters still see Trump as the only candidate willing to confront Washington’s entrenched failures.