As the Israel-Iran conflict continues to dominate headlines, self-described Democratic Socialist Senator Bernie Sanders made a campaign stop in the conservative stronghold of Fort Worth as part of his national “Fight Oligarchy” tour.

The rally, held at Dickies Arena, was scheduled to begin at 5:45 p.m. but saw a sluggish start, with the venue reportedly half-empty at the onset. Attendance swelled as the evening progressed, nearing capacity by the time Sanders took the stage. Many attendees were seen waving Palestinian flags and wearing shirts emblazoned with communist symbols. Several at the rally wore masks.

Joining Sanders on stage were far-left figures, including three-time statewide candidate Beto O’Rourke and U.S. Congressman Greg Casar.

Speeches centered on progressive talking points, such as defending illegal immigration and criticizing U.S. foreign policy toward Iran. Casar denounced recent U.S. airstrikes against the Iranian regime.

“A man here with legal status getting deported to a foreign prison because his autism awareness tattoo, they want to call a gang symbol,” Congressman Casar said while defending illegal aliens.

Casar went on to say that the “President cannot go to war without a vote of Congress,” and said that it is “illegal,” all the while defending Iran.

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Sanders used the rally to spotlight Texas as a key battleground for the far-left movement.

“The future of American politics rests in Texas,” Sanders told the crowd.

Texas Democrat Chairman Kendall Scudder said that he wants to build a “working-class army across every corner of this state.”

The Texas Democratic Party has faced controversy since recently electing a Socialist as its vice-chair of finance, Kolby Duhon.

Duhon describes himself as “pansexual” and has pushed gender confusion on “trans kids,” according to Texas Scorecard.

Republican leaders quickly pounced on the rally and its messaging.

“People are way too concerned about a gathering of disaffected social rejects who only filled a third of the seats. Most people around here have already rejected the America-hating Commie policies of Bernie. This is MAGA country,” Tarrant County GOP Chairman Bo French told The Dallas Express. 

“The Democrat Party has completely collapsed,” U.S. Senate candidate Alexander Duncan posted on X.

“Hilarious. I’m glad these idiots waste campaign dollars on this stuff,” Texas Family Project President Brady Gray posted on X.