The Myth of Bernie Sanders’ Rally Crowds Unnerving Trump and the Democrats’ Leadership Vacuum

By Devin Breitenberg

Sanders’ Crowds: Big, But Not Trump’s Nightmare

Bernie Sanders has always been a crowd magnet. His recent rallies—pulling 9,000 in Michigan, 30,000 in Denver, and 36,000 in Los Angeles—aren’t a new phenomenon. During his 2016 and 2020 presidential runs, he packed arenas with the same fiery rhetoric about billionaires and inequality. The man’s a rock star to his base, and his message of economic populism resonates with people frustrated by rising costs and shrinking opportunities. But to suggest these crowds are sending Trump into a panic is a stretch.

First, Trump’s political brand thrives on opposition. If anything, Sanders’ rallies might energize Trump’s base more than they scare him. Trump has faced protests, lawsuits, and two impeachments—crowds chanting against him are background noise. His supporters see resistance as validation of his outsider status, not a threat. Sanders’ events, while impressive, aren’t flipping swing voters or peeling off MAGA loyalists. They’re preaching to the choir—progressives already skeptical of Trump’s policies. The idea that Trump is losing sleep over Sanders’ megaphone ignores the reality: Trump’s coalition expanded in 2024, capturing 50% of the vote despite Sanders’ warnings.

Second, crowd size isn’t destiny. Sanders himself has said these rallies aren’t a campaign, and he’s not running in 2028. His team waited to launch the tour, hoping a Democrat would step up, but no one did. That’s not Trump’s problem—it’s the Democrats’. The energy at Sanders’ events reflects frustration with the Democratic Party’s muddled response to Trump’s agenda, not a seismic shift that threatens the White House. If anything, Sanders’ crowds highlight a divide within the left, not a unified front that keeps Trump up at night.

The Democrats’ Youth Problem Isn’t Just About Age

Which brings us to the second point: why can’t the Democrats find a youthful leader? The hand-wringing over the party’s lack of a dynamic, under-50 figurehead—like a progressive Barack Obama—misses deeper issues. It’s not that young talent doesn’t exist; it’s that the party’s structure and priorities smother it.

Take Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, 35, who’s joined Sanders on his tour. She’s charismatic, media-savvy, and draws rock-star applause. But her brand of progressivism alienates moderates, and the party establishment keeps her at arm’s length. Other names floated for 2028—Gavin Newsom (57), Gretchen Whitmer (53), Josh Shapiro (51)—aren’t exactly geriatric, but they’re not “youthful” in the way people imagine, like a 40-year-old game-changer. Why the drought?

For one, the Democratic Party rewards loyalty over boldness. Rising stars face a gauntlet of party gatekeepers—donors, consultants, and senior leaders like Chuck Schumer—who favor safe bets over risky innovators. AOC’s calls to “fight harder” resonate with rallygoers, but they rankle the establishment, which prefers compromise to confrontation. Young leaders with big ideas often get sidelined or co-opted, forced to play nice or lose funding and endorsements.

Then there’s the messaging problem. Sanders’ crowds love his clarity—tax the rich, protect Social Security, fight Musk’s influence. But the broader party struggles to distill its values into something that excites beyond the base. Polls show Democrats at an all-time low in popularity, with voters wanting action, not platitudes. A youthful leader needs a stage, but the party’s stage is cluttered with competing factions—centrists, progressives, and everyone in between—leaving no room for a breakout star.

Finally, youth isn’t a silver bullet. Sanders, at 83, outshines younger Democrats because of his authenticity, not his age. People trust him; they don’t trust the party. A 40-year-old with the same tired talking points wouldn’t fare better. The problem is vision, not birth year. Obama was 47 when he won in 2008, but it was “hope and change,” not his age, that galvanized voters.

The Real Story: A Party Adrift

The chatter about Sanders’ rallies spooking Trump is a distraction from the real issue: the Democrats are adrift. Sanders’ crowds aren’t a threat to Trump—they’re a wake-up call for his own party. Attendees like Clarissa Vela in Arizona demand Democrats “get loud” and organize, not just react. But the party’s response—press conferences, op-eds, Hakeem Jeffries’ children’s book tour—feels out of touch when Sanders is packing arenas.

If Democrats want a youthful leader, they need to clear space for one. That means less control from the old guard, more risk-taking, and a message that cuts through the noise. Sanders’ rallies show people are hungry for fight, not finesse. Until the party figures that out, no one—young or old—will fill the void. And Trump? He’s probably not sweating it.

Devin Breitenberg is a legal consultant and senior counsel at Devin Law LLC and legal contributor  for Veritas Expositae.  You can reach her at devin.breitenberg@veritasexpositae.com