Mittens meme helps Bernie Sanders raise US$1.8 million for charity

Photo of Vermont senator went viral on social media for his simple Inauguration Day fashion choices

‘Chairman Sanders’ merchandise, including T-shirts, sweatshirts and stickers, sell like hot cakes

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This photo of US Senator Bernie Sanders sparked endless quirky memes across social media. Photo: AFP

Published: 10:49am, 28 Jan 2021Updated: 8:56pm, 28 Jan 2021

The Inauguration Day photograph of a mitten-clad, glamour-defying Bernie Sanders perhaps was not the most flattering image of the US senator, but it has become a remarkably charitable one.

The 79-year-old lawmaker from the northeastern state of Vermont announced Wednesday he has raised US$1.8 million for charity over the past five days through sales of merchandise featuring him wearing knit mittens and a parka at President Joe Biden’s January 20 swearing-in.

The image launched a thousand memes and made the earnest and seemingly cantankerous two-time presidential candidate even more of an internet star than he already was.

“Jane and I were amazed by all the creativity shown by so many people over the last week, and we’re glad we can use my internet fame to help Vermonters in need,” Sanders said in a statement.

“But even this amount of money is no substitute for action by Congress,” he said, referring to efforts to pass a massive coronavirus pandemic rescue package.

“I will be doing everything I can in Washington to make sure working people in Vermont and across the country get the relief they need in the middle of the worst crisis we’ve faced since the Great Depression.”