There's no chance that Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders Bernie SandersNYT editorial board remembers Ginsburg: She 'will forever have two legacies' Two GOP governors urge Republicans to hold off on Supreme Court nominee Sanders knocks McConnell: He's going against Ginsburg's 'dying wishes' MORE launches an independent bid for president, according to Sen. Jeff Merkley Jeffrey (Jeff) Alan MerkleyThe Hill's Morning Report - Sponsored by The Air Line Pilots Association - Trump, Biden renew push for Latino support Sunday shows - Trump team defends coronavirus response Oregon senator says Trump's blame on 'forest management' for wildfires is 'just a big and devastating lie' MORE (D-Ore.).

“Absolutely not,” Merkley, who has endorsed Sanders, said Monday on CNN's "New Day."

ADVERTISEMENT

“Bernie went into this and said, ‘There’s no way I’m going to be Ralph Nader,’” Merkley added, referring to Nader's presidential run in 2000 that some Democrats think cost Al Gore Albert (Al) Arnold GoreFox's Napolitano: 2000 election will look like 'child's play' compared to 2020 legal battles Who calls an election? Why we need patience and nonpartisanship this time Universal mail-in voting jeopardizes the equal right to vote, but absentee voting protects it MORE the White House. "'We’re not going to split the party or empower Republicans.'

"He understands the damage that [former President George W.] Bush did to this nation, and he’s not going to allow [Donald] Trump to follow on and do even more damage.”

Trump has repeatedly said that Sanders should abandon the Democrats and launch a third-party run as Hillary Clinton Hillary Diane Rodham ClintonJeff Flake: Republicans 'should hold the same position' on SCOTUS vacancy as 2016 Momentum growing among Republicans for Supreme Court vote before Election Day Warning signs flash for Lindsey Graham in South Carolina MORE gets closer to winning the party's nomination.

Bernie Sanders is being treated very badly by the Dems. The system is rigged against him. He should run as an independent! Run Bernie, run. — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 16, 2016

“Bernie Sanders is being treated very badly by the Dems,” he tweeted. "The system is rigged against him. He should run as an independent! Run Bernie, run.”

Merkley on Monday said Trump is only trying to help himself by pushing the third-party idea.

“Trump is by and for himself,” Merkley said. "The substance just doesn’t go deeper, which is why we’re ensnared in all of these stories about his personality and his life and the way he treats women and so on and so forth.”