Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) also bristled at footage of the president bragging that the tax bill had essentially put an end to Obamacare | Justin Sullivan / Getty Sanders says tax overhaul 'makes a bad situation worse'

Sen. Bernie Sanders said Sunday the tax overhaul signed by President Donald Trump on Friday will ultimately fail because it focused on the wealthy at the expense of the middle class.

"This legislation makes a bad situation worse and it drives up the deficit," the Vermont independent said Sunday on CNN's "State of the Union."


Speaking to Jake Tapper, Sanders acknowledged that most taxpayers will benefit from the tax legislation next year but said more benefits will accrue to the nation's wealthiest citizens over the next decade.

"Should we have focused on the needs of the middle class? We should have," Sanders said, citing statistics that America's wealthiest 1 percent will register the largest gains.

"We should have made the tax breaks for the middle class permanent," the 2016 presidential contender said.

In response to examples provided by Tapper of companies offering their employees bonuses and pay raises in the wake of the tax bill, Sanders said that other companies were using their windfalls for corporate buybacks.

Sanders also bristled at footage of the president bragging that the tax bill had essentially put an end to Obamacare, by ending tax penalties that were meant to enforce the individual mandate. "That a president celebrates that 13 million Americans will lose their health insurance," he said to Tapper in response.

Sanders also echoed remarks by Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) that if the president were to fire special counsel Robert Mueller, it would be disastrous for the rule of law.

"To say the least, I think it would be provoking a constitutional crisis," Sanders said.