Bernie Sanders Endorses Hillary Clinton; Social Media Reacts

At Tuesday’s New Hampshire campaign rally, Bernie Sanders formally endorsed Hillary Clinton. Last month, President Obama, through video, endorsed Clinton as well.

In a Facebook note titled “Forever forward,” Sanders wrote, “Today, I endorsed Hillary Clinton to be our next president. I know that some of you will be disappointed with that decision. But I believe that, at this moment, our country, our values, and our common vision for a transformed America, are best served by the defeat of Donald Trump and the election of Hillary Clinton.”

According to CNN, Sanders “pledged to support his former rival through Election Day,” noting their mutual goal to take on Donald Trump. However, Robert Reich, former Secretary of Labor under Bill Clinton, warned before the official announcement was made that Sanders’s endorsement would essentially cause him to lose all of his leverage. Monday night, he posted to his Facebook about believing that Sanders should hold off on announcing until the convention nominated Clinton. The end of his post questioned whether or not Sanders’s supporters would join together “to create a new political force.”

Thank you to the 13 million Americans who voted for me and the hundreds of thousands of volunteers who worked so hard on our campaign.

— Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) July 12, 2016

In the wake of the announcement, Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee, took to Twitter to respond to the announcement. He said Sanders “totally sold out to Crooked Hillary Clinton” and acknowledged that his fans were “not happy that he is selling out.” The Sanders campaign quickly retorted by retweeting Trump, saying, “Big talk from the same guy who was too afraid to debate Bernie in California.”

Trump then tweeted again a few hours later, encouraging voters to join his campaign:

To all the Bernie voters who want to stop bad trade deals & global special interests, we welcome you with open arms. People first.

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 12, 2016

The issues that Sanders focused on most during his campaign were the cost of college tuition, creating a living wage, combatting gender inequality and tackling income and wealth inequality.

In Sanders’s Facebook note, he outlined Clinton’s plans, which include a debt-free college plan, investments in health care and raising the minimum wage. After today’s announcement, Clinton took to Twitter to outline some of her plans, which also included tackling systemic racism and ensuring that Wall Street “pays their fair share of taxes.”

Together, let’s go win this election. pic.twitter.com/lRSwpk9y4b

— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) July 12, 2016

Sanders ended the note by calling on everyone to keep the movement together, ensuring that a Democratic nominee is elected in November. He also encouraged his supporters to continue fighting for progressive policies and candidates.

“This movement of ours – this political revolution – must continue,” the note reads. “We cannot let all of the momentum we have achieved in the fight to transform America be lost. We will never stop fighting for what is right.”

Sanders Endorses Clinton; Social Media Reactions

While some people expressed support for the decision, while many were visibly disappointed and upset.

Bernie has already done great things for this country and so has his campaign. Many are just disappointed that this is as far as he made it.

— Tim Pool (@Timcast) July 12, 2016

Trust Bernie. He has a plan. I have looked into this man's eyes. He is and always will be good. He will always do what he thinks is right.

— BernieForThePeople (@Bernie4People) July 12, 2016

#Bernie supporters have gone from "Feel the Bern!" to feeling burned

— Joe Prich (@JoePrich) July 12, 2016

Welp, Bernie. "I will make it clear as possible, as to why I'm endorsing Hillary Clinton." #NeverHillary We won't follow you there.

— aaron bowersock (@abowersock) July 12, 2016

My condolences to Bernie or Bust folks. You fought the good fight making a difference. Time to #WorkwithHillary & bring the progress home.

— Norm Clark (@Normsmusic) July 12, 2016

why is everyone so shocked by Bernie? He had always said he would support the Dem. nominee… this should have been expected #HillYes

— keaton (@keatonxxgrant) July 12, 2016

Bernie Sanders basically took all the money that his supporters donated to him and gave it to Crooked Hillary. #SelloutSanders

— Gabrielle Seunagal ♛ (@ClassySnobbb) July 12, 2016

I cannot bring myself to sign Bernie's pledge.

— Lori (@iCounterSpin) July 12, 2016

Bernie betrayed his supporters endorsing the most corrupt politician in Washington today. I feel bad for them! #SelloutSanders

— Samantha Hagmayer (@SHagmayer) July 12, 2016

I'll STRONGLY defend #Bernie against anyone calling him out. His #Hillary endorsement shows he cares more about his country than himself.

— Peter Daou (@peterdaou) July 12, 2016

Again – if Bernie lost at a contested convention – fine – I can deal. But to throw in towel BEFORE is a slap in the face to all his donors.

— PositiveTrifecta (@KristianneMrsC) July 12, 2016

.@BernieSanders endorsed @HillaryClinton… Thanks for the ride Bernie, but this is my stop, I'm hopping off here… #ThankYouBernie

— Xavier Pérez (@DOUBTMYPROGRESS) July 12, 2016

If you're a Bernie supporter, please don't take what happened today as a sign it's time to give up. If anything, the fight has just begun.

— John Haltiwanger (@jchaltiwanger) July 12, 2016

What are your thoughts on Sanders’s decision to endorse Clinton?