WASHINGTON, D.C. March 2, 2026 – U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) on Monday resurfaced a 2020 statement from President Donald Trump sharply criticizing America’s massive military expenditures in the Middle East, arguing that trillions of dollars have been wasted abroad while domestic infrastructure crumbles.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter) that quickly garnered hundreds of thousands of views, Sanders wrote:
“President Trump was right in 2020:
‘We’ve spent $8 trillion in the Middle East and we’re not fixing our roads in this country? How stupid. How stupid is it? And we’re not fixing our tunnels, our bridges, our hospitals, our schools? It’s crazy.’”
The post includes a video clip of then-candidate Trump delivering the remarks during the 2020 presidential campaign.
Sanders’ timing appears linked to the ongoing U.S. and Israeli military campaign against Iran, which began with coordinated strikes on February 28, 2026. The operation has already resulted in the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and multiple top military commanders, with President Trump stating the goal includes eliminating Iran’s nuclear and missile programs and supporting regime change. U.S. officials have described the action as targeted and not the start of another “endless war,” though Trump indicated operations could last several weeks or longer.
The Vermont senator has repeatedly criticized the escalation, previously calling the strikes “unconstitutional” and warning they risk dragging the United States into another costly conflict. His Monday post echoes Trump’s own past skepticism about prolonged Middle East engagements, which Trump has contrasted with domestic priorities such as repairing roads, bridges, schools, and hospitals.
Critics of Sanders’ statement, including some Republican voices, argue that removing Iran’s leadership — long described as the world’s leading state sponsor of terrorism — could ultimately reduce long-term U.S. military costs in the region by diminishing the need for ongoing bases and operations. Others point out that past spending figures cited by Trump include the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, which predate his presidency.
As the conflict enters its third day, oil prices have surged, shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has been disrupted, and questions about the financial toll on American taxpayers are intensifying — precisely the issue Sanders highlighted by invoking Trump’s own words.
Life News Agency will continue monitoring developments in the Middle East and reactions from U.S. lawmakers.
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