Energy watchdog exposes eye-popping carbon footprint of Sanders’ jet-setting tour
Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders has been under fire for his use of private jets during his “Fighting Oligarchy” tour, with critics pointing out the significant carbon emissions generated by his flights. An energy watchdog group, Power the Future, has calculated that Sanders’ private jet emitted a total of 62.15 tonnes of carbon dioxide during the 16 stops of the tour.
To put this in perspective, Power the Future compared the emissions to burning 62,600 pounds of coal, driving a gas-powered SUV 150,000 miles, powering every home in Sanders’ hometown of Burlington, Vermont, for weeks, and powering nine U.S. homes for an entire year. The group also highlighted that Sanders’ emissions from this single tour surpass the average American’s carbon footprint over five years and undo the carbon-capturing work of nearly 2,900 trees in a year.
Dan Turner, the founder and executive director of Power the Future, criticized Sanders for his hypocrisy, pointing out that while the senator advocates for climate change legislation, his personal actions demonstrate a lack of commitment to reducing carbon emissions. Turner described Sanders as a “limousine liberal” and a “fake socialist” who is unwilling to live by the standards he wants to impose on others, ultimately contributing to the demise of the climate movement.
Despite the criticism, Sanders has refused to apologize for his private jet travel, arguing that it is necessary for campaign purposes and often not feasible to fly commercially. Sanders defended his use of private jets, emphasizing the need to reach thousands of people during campaign rallies and dismissing the idea of waiting in line for commercial flights.
Sanders’ campaign committee, Friends of Bernie Sanders, spent over $221,000 on chartering private jets in the first quarter of 2025, according to Federal Election Commission filings. The senator allocated this substantial amount to three private jet companies for his travel needs.
Critics, including the National Republican Congressional Committee spokesperson Ben Petersen, have condemned Sanders and his fellow progressive Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez for their use of private jets while advocating for environmental policies that require sacrifices from the American public. The pair were even seen using a private jet worth up to $15,000 an hour for some stops on their tour, further highlighting their perceived hypocrisy.
As the debate over Sanders’ private jet travel continues, it raises questions about the intersection of personal actions and political advocacy for climate change. While Sanders may defend his use of private jets for logistical reasons, critics argue that his actions undermine the credibility of his environmental platform. It remains to be seen how Sanders will address these criticisms and reconcile his campaign travel practices with his climate change advocacy.
