Republican Sen. Markwayne Mullin accused independent Sen. Bernie Sanders of being ‘part of the problem’ in America’s broken healthcare system during a tense Senate confrontation.
The Fiery Exchange
The clash erupted Wednesday in the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions hearing on Casey Means’ nomination for U.S. Surgeon General. Mullin criticized the panel for chastising witnesses who seek healthcare reforms.
‘God forbid we change and try to fix our broken system,’ Mullin stated. As he attempted to refocus, Sanders interjected, ‘Yes, you did.’
Mullin fired back sharply. ‘I’m sorry, I didn’t ask for your opinion on that, and if I cared about your opinion I would ask you. But I don’t care about your opinion,’ he said. ‘You’re part of the system. You’re part of the problem. You’ve been sitting here longer than I’ve been alive. This is your problem.’
He pressed further: ‘You should have fixed this a long time ago. You’ve been railing on it for so long. What have you been doing?’
Sanders responded sarcastically, noting he had opted against running for Surgeon General: ‘You’re the nominee I’ve decided.’ Mullin rejected the remark: ‘That is definitely something we would never accept.’
Social Media Reactions
The exchange quickly spread online. Andrew Kolvet, executive producer of The Charlie Kirk Show, posted on X: ‘Senator Mullin FIRED BACK after Bernie Sanders took a cheap shot, and it did NOT end well for the octogenarian socialist.’
Comedian Tim Young commented on X: ‘That’s what his commie supporters can’t figure out. Bernie has been in office so long that he should have solved their problems by now.’
Journalist Anna Matson wrote on X: ‘Finally. Someone put Bernie Sanders in his place. He’s all talk and no action. He’s been in office longer than I’ve been alive and he has nothing to show for it.’
History of Feuds
Mullin and Sanders have clashed before. In 2023, Sanders intervened during a heated exchange between Mullin and Teamsters President Sean O’Brien at a Senate hearing. Mullin, a former MMA fighter, challenged O’Brien to stand. Sanders banged the gavel: ‘You’re a United States senator, sit down. This is a hearing, and God knows the American people have enough contempt for Congress let’s not.’
More recently, in December 2023, they sparred over Obamacare. Mullin accused Sanders of blocking the bipartisan Mikaela Naylon Give Kids a Chance Act, aimed at expanding cancer treatment options for children.
