Bernie Sanders Rips Microsoft For Xbox Layoffs And Price Hikes
Senator Bernie Sanders has criticized Microsoft for laying off 3,200 Xbox employees while raising console prices and benefiting from substantial tax breaks and corporate profits. In a social media post, the Vermont senator highlighted Microsoft’s $101 billion profit in 2025 and the $12.5 billion tax break the company received under President Trump’s new tax plan, alongside CEO Satya Nadella’s $96 million compensation package.
The layoffs are part of a broader Microsoft restructuring affecting 4,800 employees total. Simultaneously, Xbox has raised the price of its Series X console to $800—a $150 increase—intensifying scrutiny over the company’s spending priorities and worker treatment.
Sanders used the situation as evidence against “trickle-down economics,” arguing that corporate tax breaks do not translate to job creation or worker investment. “Please don’t tell me corporate tax breaks create jobs. It never trickles down,” he stated, highlighting the disconnect between massive corporate profits and simultaneous workforce reductions.
The criticism reflects broader debates about corporate spending, worker compensation, and tax policy. The situation raises questions about how major corporations allocate revenue when reporting record profits while cutting staff and raising prices on consumer products.