Sen. Bernie Sanders Bernie SandersOutrage erupts over Breonna Taylor grand jury ruling Dimon: Wealth tax 'almost impossible to do' Grand jury charges no officers in Breonna Taylor death MORE (I-Vt.) compared President Trump Donald John TrumpBiden on Trump's refusal to commit to peaceful transfer of power: 'What country are we in?' Romney: 'Unthinkable and unacceptable' to not commit to peaceful transition of power Two Louisville police officers shot amid Breonna Taylor grand jury protests MORE's treatment of immigrants to "authoritarian types" after the president halted his administration's practice of separating migrant families at the border amid mounting pressure.

"You have a president who has given tax breaks to billionaires who wants to cut programs that working people desperately need and he thinks as authoritarian types all over Europe believe, that if you foment anger against immigrants and show how strong and tough you are on those little children, that it will get you votes in elections," Sanders told CNN's Anderson Cooper late Wednesday.

Sanders, who is considered a potential Democratic presidential nominee in 2020, said that he is unsure if Trump was using the family separation issue as part of negotiations to secure more border wall funding.

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"Clearly he sees from his political perspective that being anti-immigrant is a winner for him politically. I don’t think it is, but that’s his logic,” he added.

Sen. Bernie Sanders: President Trump "thinks as authoritarian types all over Europe believe that if you can ferment anger against immigrants and show how strong and tough you are on those little children that it will get you votes in elections. I think that's pretty pathetic." pic.twitter.com/goFepCiXTW — Anderson Cooper 360° (@AC360) June 21, 2018

The Trump administration announced a "zero tolerance" immigration policy in April, stating that federal agents would "aggressively" prosecute migrants crossing the U.S.–Mexico border illegally.

That policy led to the separation of thousands of children from their families at the border.

The separations prompted outcry from lawmakers in both parties and international leaders who called the practice "cruel" and "inhumane."

Trump gave in to pressure on Wednesday, signing an executive order that would allow families to be detained together.

The executive order marked a sharp reversal for Trump and administration officials who had stated repeatedly that the issue of family separation could only be addressed by Congress.