US Senator and Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders speaks during a campaign rally at University of Nevada February 18, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Getty Images)

US Senator Bernie Sanders, the leading Democratic presidential candidate, has condemned Saudi Arabia�s regime during a town hall meeting, calling the country�s leaders murderous thugs.

For years, we have loved Saudi Arabia - our wonderful ally; the only problem is the people who run that country are murderous thugs, Sanders said on Tuesday, according to Middle East Eye.

The Vermont senator described Saudi Arabia�s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman as a billionaire dictator.

The senator also reiterated his stance that the United States should not ignore the needs of Palestinians and blasted the right-wing racist government that currently exists in Israel.

He also pointed to the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip.

Sanders made similar remarks during a presidential debate in December, when he called Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a racist and said US foreign policy cannot be only pro-Israel, but must be pro-Palestinian as well.

Sanders has also been a relentless critic of President Donald Trump, repeatedly calling him a liar and the most dangerous president in US history.

The senator has jumped out to a double-digit lead over his closest rivals in the Democratic presidential contest, while former US vice president and previous front-runner Joe Biden has seen his support drop by 11 points, according to a new NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll released Tuesday.

The survey also shows former New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg gaining ground in the Democratic race in the past month.

SOURCE: PRESS TV