Fox News attacks Bernie Sanders day after he embarrasses network with Medicare for All support

Veteran senator has proposed a dramatic overhaul of the US healthcare system called Medicare for All and critics have claimed it would cost the US dearly

Less than 24 hours after a crowd in Pennsylvania shocked Fox News hosts by expressing overwhelming support for Bernie Sanders’ Medicare for All plan, the cable network has punched back at the Vermont senator.

After the veteran politician received support during the town hall event by indicating they would switch over to public health plans, Fox and Friends — the network’s morning talk show — brought in a tax expert who expressed some major reservations about Mr Sanders’ plans to reimagine the American economy.

“If you look at healthcare, free tuition, family leave, child care – those proposals will all have a price tag of over $20,000 per taxpayer,” Maya MacGuineas, the president of the nonpartisan Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, said, discussing a study by the group from the 2016 campaign.

Mr Sanders has acknowledged that his controversial plan would be expensive, but has claimed that the system he would put in place — a virtual overhaul of the US healthcare system — would ultimately save the US money through lowered healthcare costs.

But detractors have attacked the plan, and others he has proposed, as too expensive and without a clear funding source. The presidential candidate has said he would pay for the plans at least in part by raising taxes on the ultra wealthy in America.

Ms MacGuineas continued: “I don't know whether they plan to finance all of that or add that to the very large national debt, but the costs are certainly high. I know trillion is kind of hard to get your arms around. But when you bring it down per taxpayer, we are talking more than $20,000 increase in taxes.”

The guest on Fox and Friends wasn’t the only critic of Mr Sanders’ appearance during the network's town hall, when moderator Brett Baier was met with cheers when he asked the Pennsylvania crowd if they’d support Mr Sanders’ Medicare for All.

In a tweet, Mr Trump seemed to suggest that Mr Sanders’ appearance was a betrayal to him form the conservative news outlet.

“So weird to watch Crazy Bernie on @FoxNews. Not surprisingly, @BretBaier and the “audience was so smiley and nice. Very strange, and now we have @donnabrazile?” Mr Trump tweeted, referring to the former Democratic strategist who is now a contributor at the network.