Sen. Bernie Sanders Bernie SandersSirota reacts to report of harassment, doxing by Harris supporters Republicans not immune to the malady that hobbled Democrats The Hill's Morning Report - Sponsored by Facebook - Republicans lawmakers rebuke Trump on election MORE (I-Vt.) said that Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Alexandria Ocasio-CortezOn The Money: Anxious Democrats push for vote on COVID-19 aid | Pelosi, Mnuchin ready to restart talks | Weekly jobless claims increase | Senate treads close to shutdown deadline McCarthy says there will be a peaceful transition if Biden wins Anxious Democrats amp up pressure for vote on COVID-19 aid MORE (D-N.Y.) would play a “very important role” in his administration if he is elected president in 2020.

Sanders made the remarks in a joint interview with Ocasio-Cortez and ABC News’s Rachel Scott on Sunday.

"Look, I have said this before, let me say it again – and I don't want [Ocasio-Cortez] to hear this, because [her] head will explode," he began at one point in the interview, which has begun to pick up traction online.

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"I don't know of any person, [and] I've been in Congress for a few years, who in the course of less than one year – she's been in office less than one year – who has had more of an impact on American politics as a freshman member of Congress than she has” he continued.

When pressed by Scott if he had considered putting Ocasio-Cortez in a Cabinet position his administration, Sanders responded: “If I am in the White House, she will play a very, very important role.”

“No question, in one way or the other,” he added.

Ocasio-Cortez, a freshman member of Congress who first rose to prominence last year after defeating a 10 term-incumbent Democrat in the 2018 primaries, endorsed Sanders in the presidential race last month.

Since then, she and Sanders have made several public appearances on the campaign trail as he seeks to gain support in the primary race against other leading Democratic presidential contenders, including former Vice President Joe Biden Joe BidenFormer Pence aide: White House staffers discussed Trump refusing to leave office Progressive group buys domain name of Trump's No. 1 Supreme Court pick Bloomberg rolls out M ad buy to boost Biden in Florida MORE and Sen. Elizabeth Warren Elizabeth WarrenOvernight Defense: Appeals court revives House lawsuit against military funding for border wall | Dems push for limits on transferring military gear to police | Lawmakers ask for IG probe into Pentagon's use of COVID-19 funds On The Money: Half of states deplete funds for Trump's 0 unemployment expansion | EU appealing ruling in Apple tax case | House Democrats include more aid for airlines in coronavirus package Warren, Khanna request IG investigation into Pentagon's use of coronavirus funds MORE (Mass.).

Over the weekend, Sanders’ campaign boasted of the crowd size his rallies with Ocasio-Cortez recently drew in Iowa, where a recent Quinnipiac University poll shows him trailing Biden and South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg Pete ButtigiegBillionaire who donated to Trump in 2016 donates to Biden The Hill's Morning Report - Sponsored by Facebook - GOP closes ranks to fill SCOTUS vacancy by November Buttigieg stands in as Pence for Harris's debate practice MORE.