"The issue is, who has the guts to take on Wall Street, to take on the fossil fuel industry, to take on the big money interests who have unbelievable influence over the economic and political life of this country?" Sen. Bernie Sanders said. | Wilfredo Lee/AP Photo 2020 democratic debates Sanders says generational attacks on him and Biden amount to 'ageism'

Sen. Bernie Sanders chafed at generational attacks against the older Democratic candidates on the debate stage on Thursday night, saying the digs struck him as "ageism."

“I think that's kind of ageism to tell you the truth,” Sanders, who is 77, responded when a journalist asked about the "generational argument being made by one of your younger rivals."


Sanders went on to say that what all the Democratic candidates are trying to do is “to end discrimination in this country against women, against minorities, against the LGBT community, and I think on ageism as well.”

Sanders’ accusation came after a striking exchange earlier in the evening between former Vice President Joe Biden and Rep. Eric Swalwell, who was the second-youngest candidate on the debate stage at 38. (South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg was the youngest at 37.)

“I was six years old when a presidential candidate came to the California Democratic Convention and said, ‘It’s time to pass the torch to a new generation of Americans.’” Swalwell said, pausing for effect. “That candidate was then-Sen. Joe Biden.”

Biden, who is 76, wasted no time in responding, telling the young presidential hopeful that he was “still holding on to that torch.”

A free-for-all followed, with multiple candidates trying to weigh in on the issue of which generation should next lead the country.

Sanders, for his part, said the pressing problems in the nation are "not generational."

"The issue is, who has the guts to take on Wall Street, to take on the fossil fuel industry, to take on the big money interests who have unbelievable influence over the economic and political life of this country?" Sanders shot back on stage.