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.) clashed with an MSNBC host Thursday during an interview when the host pressed the 2020 presidential candidate on his call for former Vice President Joe Biden Joe BidenPelosi slams Trump executive order on pre-existing conditions: It 'isn't worth the paper it's signed on' Hillicon Valley: Subpoenas for Facebook, Google and Twitter on the cards | Wray rebuffs mail-in voting conspiracies | Reps. raise mass surveillance concerns Fox News poll: Biden ahead of Trump in Nevada, Pennsylvania and Ohio MORE to apologize over his remarks about working with two segregationist lawmakers.

MSNBC’s Stephanie Ruhle said Biden was trying to make the point that “bipartisanship is necessary” and he’s shown it by working with “the deplorable of the deplorable.”

“Why is it you believe he has to apologize,” she asked Sanders.

The bipartisanship is not what Sanders disagrees with, he said.

“Look, when you’re in Congress you work with everybody. I do; I think every member of the Senate, every member of the House works with people who have very, very different points of view,” Sanders said. ADVERTISEMENT

“But I don’t think you have to be touting personal relations with people who were very brutal segregationists,” he added.

Sanders and Biden are in the race among more than 20 other Democrats for the party’s presidential nomination.

Pushed on whether he thinks Biden’s comments have been taken out of context as a praise of the segregationists, Sanders told MSNBC “I think the media makes a bigger deal of it than it is,” but would not back down on his call for Biden to apologize.

“That’s my view. I’m sorry ma’am. I’m sorry if you disagree with me, that’s my view,” Sanders said.

Sen. Cory Booker Cory Anthony Booker3 reasons why Biden is misreading the politics of court packing Bipartisan praise pours in after Ginsburg's death DHS opens probe into allegations at Georgia ICE facility MORE (D-N.J.) also called on Biden to apologize. Biden publicly refused, saying, “apologize for what,” and suggested Booker is the one who should apologize.

"He knows better,” Biden said, referring to Booker.

A handful of 2020 candidates condemned Biden after he spoke about the civility between him and segregationist politicians working in the Senate in 2020.

Biden’s campaign did not returned a request for comment from The Hill.