Three unlikely minutes of political revolution erupted at Coachella when Senator Bernie Sanders made a surprise appearance Saturday night. The 83-year-old senator took the Outdoor Theatre stage before Clairo’s set, drawing shocked cheers from festival-goers who’d paid $600+ for tickets to see music, not politics. Ironic? Yeah. Effective? Absolutely.

Rep. Maxwell Frost introduced Sanders, who was fresh off a massive Los Angeles rally that had drawn 36,000 people earlier that day. Part of his “Fighting Oligarchy” tour with AOC, Sanders clearly wasn’t taking a day off from battling billionaires, even at a festival notoriously packed with influencers and trust fund kids.

Sanders didn’t mince words. He hammered home climate change urgency, reproductive rights, and economic justice—all in a tidy three-minute package. When he mentioned Trump’s climate denial, the crowd erupted in boos. “I agree,” Sanders shot back, earning laughs and cheers.

Festival attendees literally sprinted toward the stage when word spread. One fan later gushed that it “meant so much that Senator Sanders came to our level.” Because nothing says “meeting the people where they are” like a surprise political speech at a music festival in the California desert.

The speech wasn’t random. Sanders was there to introduce Clairo, praising her activism on women’s rights and her outspoken stance against the war in Gaza. Sanders repeatedly emphasized the importance of fighting for healthcare as a fundamental human right during his brief but impactful address. The artist later posted a photo embracing Sanders, cementing the unexpected political-musical crossover. His appearance created significant mixed reactions on social media as some criticized the disruption of the festival’s atmosphere while others praised his message.

Sanders’ message was clear: get involved or suffer the consequences. “Ignoring politics happens at your own peril,” he warned the crowd of mostly Gen Z and Millennial festival-goers—key demographics Democrats need energized for upcoming elections.

Love him or hate him, you’ve got to admit—Bernie knows how to command attention. While some online critics snarked about his anti-billionaire message at a luxury festival, the crowd’s enthusiasm suggested his words landed exactly as intended.

Revolution, it seems, can happen anywhere. Even Coachella.