Stressing that the type of government like the Saudi should not be rewarded with a visit by the president of the United States given reports that the 2018 assassination of a Washington Post journalist and Saudi dissident Jamal Khashoggi was orchestrated by the Kingdom’s crown prince, Senator Bernie Sanders blasted on Sunday President Joe Biden’s visit to Saudi Arabia.
Biden’s visit to the Middle East and Saudi Arabia came in the wake of Russia’s war on Ukraine, amid surging oil prices and a global energy crisis. Ramping up oil production was among the issues discussed during the bilateral meeting with the crown prince and other Saudi officials Biden participated in.
Despite recognizing that the oil crisis is likely the reason behind Biden’s visit, Vermont Sen. Sanders suggested talking on ABC’s “This Week,” that there are better ways to reduce gas costs.
Speaking on the subject, Sanders suggested telling the oil companies to stop ripping off the American people or, if they don’t, imposing a windfall profits tax on them, echoing the bill he introduced with Democratic Rep. Jamaal Bowman
As one of many progressives and environmentalists in favor of a windfall profits tax on oil companies, Sanders pointed out Exxon, which in times of crisis plans to triple its stock buyback program to $30 billion to enrich its wealthy shareholders instead of increasing supply or expanding production.
Cautioning against maintaining a warm relationship with a dictatorship like the Kingdom, he doubled down on his hard stance against Saudi Arabia when asked if he’d ignore the Saudis if he were president.
Sanders emphasized that the $100 billion worth Saudi ruling family crushes democracy, treats women as third-class citizens, and murders and imprisons its opponents so the US, which believes in human rights, should avoid maintaining a relationship with it.
Biden was also blasted by Democratic Rep. Adam Schiff and the Washington Post publisher Fred Ryan after sparking outrage with his casual fist bump greeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman upon his arrival at the Saudi royal palace.
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