Senator John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, long considered an unconventional Democrat, reportedly made clear on Sunday that he will not abandon his party — even as he voiced sharp criticism of its leftmost wing and emphasized positions more often associated with Republicans.
Appearing on Fox News’s Sunday Morning Futures, Fetterman faced a direct question from host Maria Bartiromo: would he consider crossing the aisle? “We know there’s been real extremists who have tried to hijack the Democratic Party,” Bartiromo said, citing the harsh rhetoric and policies that have pushed the party leftward. “Would you consider switching parties?”
Fetterman’s answer was straightforward. “No, I’m not going to switch,” he told her. But he quickly added that he would not echo the rhetoric of progressive activists who liken Donald Trump or Republican voters to fascists. “If you want a Democrat that’s going to call people Nazis or fascists or all these kinds of things, well, I’m not going to be that guy,” he said.
Instead, the freshman senator cast himself as a politician guided by “independent thinking and views — wherever I happen to believe the truth [is], regardless if it’s the Republican or the Democratic voice.”
That independence has been on display in recent months. On Sunday, Fetterman highlighted two issues where he has stood apart from the Democratic mainstream: unwavering support for Israel and opposition to government shutdowns.
“I follow Israel through this,” he said, pointing to the Jewish state’s ongoing conflict with Hamas. “And I would like to remind everybody if they were pushed into a ceasefire a year ago, you know, the beepers and [killing of Hamas leader Yahya] Sinwar and eliminating all of Hezbollah and Iran now too — think of where they could be, what they’ve accomplished. And now it’s end game. And this war does have to end, and that’s why Netanyahu’s been forced to do this and go into Gaza City. That’s why I’m going to follow Israel, just as I’ve done for now going on two years.”
Fetterman’s words are striking in a party where prominent progressives have called for a cease-fire and criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
His remarks underscored a willingness to break with the left’s narrative and instead stand firmly with America’s closest ally in the region.
The senator also took a hard line against brinkmanship in Washington. “I always believe government shutdowns should be avoided,” he said, signaling frustration with tactics favored by some lawmakers in both parties.
While he may not be ready to leave the Democrats, Fetterman is carving out a profile distinct from its activist base. Republicans have noticed. Bartiromo closed the exchange by thanking him for his “independence” and for choosing to appear on her program — something many Democratic lawmakers have declined to do.
For conservatives, the interview offered a reminder that not every Democrat is willing to embrace the party’s sharp turn leftward. Fetterman may resist calls to switch sides, but his criticisms of progressive extremism and his steadfast support for Israel place him closer to the center — and in some cases, alongside Republicans — than much of his own party.
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