Bernie Sanders Mocks Trump's 'Genius' on California Drought

VISALIA, California — -- Bernie Sanders mocked the presumptive Republican nominee for his recent comments on the drought in California, calling out Donald Trump over his dismissal of climate change.

"You see, we don't fully appreciate the genius of Donald Trump, who knows more than all the people of California, knows more than all the scientists," Sanders told the crowd of more than 5,000 people who braved 92 degree heat to hear the senator speak.

Sanders mentioned Trump's recent campaign stops in the Golden State ahead of the June 7 primary.

"[Trump] knows there is no drought. Not to mention, and I love this one, that Trump has concluded that climate change itself is a hoax," Sanders said.

Last week, the businessman made headlines when he argued the state was not actually suffering from drought.

"There is no drought. They turn the water out into the ocean," Trump declared during an event in the San Joaquin Valley less than an hour from where Sanders spoke Sunday.

The businessman blamed the state's water crisis on environmental policies, although the state has experienced record drought. Last year, California capped its driest four-year period on record and the state imposed emergency water restrictions after extremely low rainfall and snow in 2015.

Looking past his primary challenger, Hillary Clinton, Sanders continued to focus on Trump. He said that "despite Donald Trump's brilliant conclusions," every scientist he had talked to agreed climate change was real and the people of California were well aware of the problems it was causing.

"Together, despite Mr. Trump and his Republican colleagues, we are going to take on the fossil fuel industry. We are going to tell them that their short-term profits are not more important than the future of this planet," the senator added.

Sanders will continue his marathon rally schedule up the state, heading to Frenso and the Bay Area next.