Sen. Bernie Sanders Bernie SandersThe Hill's Campaign Report: Trump faces backlash after not committing to peaceful transition of power Bernie Sanders: 'This is an election between Donald Trump and democracy' The Hill's 12:30 Report: Trump stokes fears over November election outcome MORE (I-Vt.), a 2020 presidential hopeful, defended House Oversight and Reform Committee Chairman Elijah Cummings Elijah Eugene CummingsBlack GOP candidate accuses Behar of wearing black face in heated interview Overnight Health Care: US won't join global coronavirus vaccine initiative | Federal panel lays out initial priorities for COVID-19 vaccine distribution | NIH panel: 'Insufficient data' to show treatment touted by Trump works House Oversight Democrats to subpoena AbbVie in drug pricing probe MORE (D-Md). Sunday morning following President Trump Donald John TrumpSteele Dossier sub-source was subject of FBI counterintelligence probe Pelosi slams Trump executive order on pre-existing conditions: It 'isn't worth the paper it's signed on' Trump 'no longer angry' at Romney because of Supreme Court stance MORE's attack on the high-ranking Democrat.

"It's unbelievable that we have a president of the United Stated who attacks American cities, who attacks Americans who attacks somebody who is a friend of mine," Sanders said Sunday on CNN's "State of the Union."

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Sanders called Cummings one of the most "decent" politicians and said the congressman works every day to improve life in this country.

Presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders on President Trump attacking Rep. Elijah Cummings and his Baltimore district: “It's unbelievable that we have a President of the United States who attacks American cities, who attacks Americans. …That is a disgrace.” #CNNSOTU pic.twitter.com/DhfozXTQDk — State of the Union (@CNNSotu) July 28, 2019

Trump tweeted Saturday calling Cummings a "brutal bully" and attacked the city of Baltimore which falls in Cummings district.

He doubled down on his attack Sunday, claiming Cummings has done "so little for the people of Baltimore."

Sanders told CNN's Jake Tapper Jacob (Jake) Paul TapperThe media's misleading use of COVID-19 data Julia Louis-Dreyfus: 'We can't spend much time grieving' Ginsburg Pence aide dismisses concerns rushed vote on Trump nominee will hurt vulnerable senators MORE Trump's constant attacks will not be helpful in his reelection campaign.

The progressive said Americans are struggling in urban, suburban and rural areas.

The president's job, he said, is to "bring people together to improve life for all people."

"Not to have a racist president," Sanders said.

"If people are behind those issues," he said, noting some of his own progressive proposals, "they will not accept a president who divides us up on the color our skin."