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Viral Bernie Sanders moment at Trump inauguration reminds netizens of Biden's 2021 swearing-in: ‘He’s such an icon’

Bernie Sanders' decision to remain seated during President Donald Trump's inauguration speech in the face of a standing ovation has gone viral on social media.

Published on: Jan 21, 2025, 18:21:40 IST
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Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders' decision to remain seated during President Donald Trump's inauguration speech in the face of a standing ovation has gone viral on social media. The inauguration was held indoors at the US Capitol in Washington, D.C on Monday due to the frigid conditions.

Bernie Sanders also stayed sitting when Trump declared his intention to “declare a national emergency at our southern border”, while the majority of the room stood. (X)
Bernie Sanders also stayed sitting when Trump declared his intention to “declare a national emergency at our southern border”, while the majority of the room stood. (X)

Trump critic Sanders has drawn attention for showing no enthusiasm while many around him stood up to cheer the new president. The picture is a reminder of Joe Biden's inauguration in 2021, in which Sanders was seen sitting on the steps of the US Capitol.

The camera turned towards the crowd in the Rotunda as mostly all the attendees stood up lauding Trump during his speech as he announced the signing of an executive order to halt “all government censorship and bring back free speech to America.” However, Sanders gave no reaction and was seen sitting with his arms folded as the audience gave the President a standing ovation.

Bernie also stayed sitting when Trump declared his intention to “declare a national emergency at our southern border”, while the majority of the room stood.

Additionally, the senator appeared unimpressed when Trump pledged to scrap the Green New Deal, which Bernie supported.

Also Read: Did Jill Biden send a strong political message with her Trump inauguration day outfit? Her longtime stylist reveals…

Bernie Sanders draws netizens' attention

The Vermont senator's reaction quickly went viral, with several users lauding him for being the same man.

Bernie is at it again,” one X user wrote.

“Inside or outside, same pose,” a second user quipped.

A third user said, “He’s such an icon.”

In jest, users called Sanders the “grumpy grandpa” of US politics, making remarks about his mannerisms such as “He still looks cranky, but at least warmer than the last one.”

Sanders arrived at the inauguration with a number of senators and prominent Trump supporters. The attendees included several billionaires, including Elon Musk, Tesla CEO, Jeff Bezos, the owner of Amazon, and Mark Zuckerberg, the CEO of Meta.

Others, like fellow progressive politician Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, chose not to attend. The Bronx and Queens representative stated that she would be missing the event as she “doesn't celebrate rapists.”

  • Shweta Kukreti
    ABOUT THE AUTHOR
    Shweta Kukreti

    Shweta Kukreti has over 8 years of experience in covering Indian and world politics. She joined the Hindustan Times in 2024 and is primarily assigned to the US desk. She currently works as Deputy Chief Content Producer and reports on a wide range of topics, including US politics, immigration issues (especially H-1B visa) and major global events. Shweta strongly emphasizes team operations, which encompasses monitoring news, delegating tasks, editing, developing comprehensive coverage strategies, and crafting engaging, and data-informed narratives. She received the Digi Star Award at the Hindustan Times within a year of joining for her broad coverage of US politics. In 2025, she earned both a promotion and a redesignation, a significant achievement recognising her contributions and the strong value she brings to the team. She has previously worked with the Indian Express, HTDS, ANI and Republic World. Seniors in all the media organisations recognised her work. Regarding education, she earned a BA (Hons.) in Political Science and a master's degree from Delhi University, and she pursued a PG Diploma in English Journalism from the Indian Institution of Mass Communication (IIMC). She also holds a diploma in Women's Empowerment and Development from IGNOU University and a French certification course from Alliance Française de Delhi. If not working, you can find her exploring the hills and engaging in adventurous activities in Rishikesh and Himachal Pradesh. She loves to play badminton, volleyball, and chess, and spend time with her friends and family. She also enjoys spiritual activities.Read More

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