Sen. Bernie Sanders Bernie SandersSenate Republicans signal openness to working with Biden Hillicon Valley: DOJ indicts Chinese, Malaysian hackers accused of targeting over 100 organizations | GOP senators raise concerns over Oracle-TikTok deal | QAnon awareness jumps in new poll Schumer, Sanders call for Senate panel to address election security MORE (I-Vt.) on Monday clashed with a Donald Trump Donald John TrumpBarr criticizes DOJ in speech declaring all agency power 'is invested in the attorney general' Military leaders asked about using heat ray on protesters outside White House: report Powell warns failure to reach COVID-19 deal could 'scar and damage' economy MORE supporter over President Obama’s regulations on small businesses.

“Should a small business or a large business be able to pollute the water or the air or the food?” Sanders asked the man during a CNN town hall at George Washington University in Washington, D.C. "No. I hope you don’t believe that.”

CNN identified the man as Jim Jacobs, a small-business owner who supports the president-elect.

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“I don’t pollute air, I don’t pollute water, I don’t pollute food,” Jacobs retorted. "However, when these rules and regulations come in to cover all of business, and you’re trying to start a business, it’s tough enough.”

Sanders voiced openness to reexamining business regulations but cautioned against blaming the existing rules solely on the Obama administration.

“I think we should take a look at it, but the devil is in the details,” he said. "We’ve got to see what those regulations are.”

“It’s very easy to blame Barack Obama Barack Hussein ObamaGOP senator blocks Schumer resolution aimed at Biden probe as tensions run high D-Day for Trump: September 29 Obama says making a voting plan is part of 'how to quarantine successfully' MORE for everything, by the way. Some of these regulations may be state, maybe they’re local. I don’t know exactly the federal regulations.”

Sanders additionally argued that many environmental regulations are essential for maintaining purity in natural resources.

“If there’s a regulation that doesn’t make any sense, why do you keep it?” he asked. "You have some folks out there who really want the freedom to pollute our air and pollute our water.

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“They want to get rid of those regulations. I don’t agree, don’t agree. I think we have to protect our environment.”

Sanders covered topics ranging from Trump’s White House win to GOP attempts at repealing ObamaCare during Monday evening’s wide-ranging townhall. The Vermont lawmaker, who is a vocal critic of Trump, even praised the president-elect’s determination during the event.

“And it talks about perseverance, it talks about very strong political instincts, it talks about a way to connect with people,” Sanders said of Trump’s White House win. "So I give Donald Trump his due."