Fox News host Maria Bartiromo asked Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) if he would consider switching parties. “On the left, you got such extremes. Would you consider switching parties?” Bartiromo questioned. Fetterman responded, “No, I’m not going to switch, but I’m just going to be an independent voice in the Democratic Party. I’m not going to be afraid if people, if there are groups attacking a Democrat, you know the last one in Pennsylvania, to me that’s part of the problem in our party.” He added, “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.” The host replied, “Senator, you are a breath of fresh air. We appreciate your independence so much.”
Democratic Florida Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick echoed similar concerns, stating the party needs to curb members using hateful language, calling some recent statements “completely crazy” and “full of hate.” Democratic Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin rejected comparisons between Republicans and Nazis, asserting, “Republicans are not Nazis” and emphasizing, “Democrats are not evil” either. However, Democratic Connecticut Sen. Chris Murphy defended his attacks on Trump, arguing warnings about threats to democracy remain urgent despite rising political violence. Democratic Texas Rep. Jasmine Crockett doubled down on likening Trump to Nazi Germany, claiming such language is justified and does not incite violence.
Fetterman’s divergence from Democratic norms has drawn interest from Republicans aiming to expand their 53-seat majority in the Senate. His remarks coincided with President Trump’s Gaza peace proposal and congressional preparations for a potential government shutdown as the Sept. 30 deadline nears. Fetterman praised Trump’s support for Israel but criticized U.S. allies pushing Palestinian state recognition, calling it a “reward for Hamas” that would legitimize their actions. He warned, “When you have human beings held underground, tortured and starved, going on two years … it’s a reward for Hamas. That’s going to be their narrative.”
