Donald Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill under fresh attack as Bernie Sanders uses Venus Williams claim
The tennis icon came out of retirement at the age of 45 just so she could afford to see a doctor, despite having a net worth of $95m, highlighting the everyday reality for working class Americans
07:43 ET, 25 Jul 2025
Senator Bernie Sanders took another swipe at Donald Trump’s ‘big, beautiful bill’ on Thursday following Venus Williams’ Washington Open defeat
Bernie Sanders wasted no time in using tennis icon Venus Williams’ eye-opening speech at the Washington Open as his latest example of why Americans need Medicare.
The tennis icon had not played since March 2024 but was forced into making a comeback at the age of 45 this week due to financial pressures brought by insurance costs in the United States.
Williams, who seemed to snub Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at the ESPY Awards earlier in the month, had never officially retired from the sport but had been listed by the WTA as “inactive” after 16 months out.
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On Thursday, Williams was beaten in the women’s singles second round by Polish fifth seed Magdalena Frech, losing both sets 6-2, and left people stunned with what she said following the game.
“I had to come back for the insurance because they informed me earlier this year I’m on COBRA,” she revealed when explaining one of the reasons behind her dramatic return.
“So I was like, I’ve got to get my benefits on, and started training. Insurance is hard. Insurance — you guys know what it’s like. And let me tell you, I’m always at the doctor, so I need this insurance.”
Venus Williams made her first appearance since March 2024 at the Washington Open this week
While Williams laughed and joked with the crowd about the situation, it didn’t take away from the importance of Medicare – even for millionaire athletes such as the seven-time singles Grand Slam winner.
Sanders has since clipped up Williams’ post-match interview and used it across his social media channels, highlighting just how bad things are, given that the tennis icon has had to come out of retirement at the age of 45.
“If a wealthy professional athlete needs to come out of retirement to afford to see a doctor, how is our health care system impacting millions of working-class Americans?” Sanders wrote on X. “We need Medicare for All.”
On Tuesday, Williams – who had only gained entry to the Washington Open via a wildcard – became the second oldest woman to win a WTA Tour-level singles match when she beat Peyton Stearns in the first round.
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It came a day after she made her return in the doubles alongside compatriot Hailey Baptiste as they beat Eugenie Bouchard and Clervie Ngounoue 6-3, 6-1 in the last 16, before Taylor Townsend and Zhang Shuai knocked them out in Wednesday’s quarter-finals.
Following Thursday’s defeat to Frech, Williams had joked in her post-match interview that she is “always at the doctor,” which is part of the reason she hasn’t competed in well over a year.
The tennis legend, who last won a singles match in August 2023 prior to Tuesday’s first round victory over fellow American Stearns, had undergone surgery for uterine fibroids and a period of recovery following last year’s defeat to Nao Hibino at the Indian Wells Masters.
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