(NewsNation) — Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., says some of his fellow Democrats showed their displeasure with his support of Israel in its war with Hamas.
“I’ve backed Israel through this entire thing,” Fetterman said while appearing at the NewsNation Town Hall at the Kennedy Center.
Back in August, the Democratic National Committee had originally planned to clarify its position on the Israel-Hamas war. Democrats were deciding between two resolutions that addressed the war.
The first called for an arms embargo and the suspension of military aid to Israel; the other offered more context from Israel’s perspective while calling for an immediate ceasefire, the unconditional release of all hostages and the unrestricted delivery of humanitarian assistance to civilians in Gaza.
However, officials never adopted a formal position.
“Run the numbers, run the numbers. I vote, I think, 90%-plus Democrat,” Fetterman added about his stance in the Democratic Party. “Now, of course, it’s heartbreaking, the tragedy in Gaza and what’s happened to the innocent Palestinians. Now, for me, I blame Hamas and Iran and Hezbollah and some other people that don’t believe Israel, and I refuse to do that.”
Fetterman also said several members of the Democratic Party didn’t even acknowledge President Trump, a Republican, being able to secure the ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas.
“Our politics might be different, but this was a significant development,” he said. “And now, also, what Israel was able to accomplish, they had to neutralize Hamas, Hezbollah, Houthis and Iran.
“And also, the other thing, the Iranian nuclear facilities. I was the only Democrat that supported that you have to destroy those facilities. Can you imagine if they didn’t? Iran could be acquiring a nuclear bomb within the next year?”
Fetterman 1 of 2 Dems who voted against government shutdown
Fetterman acknowledged he’s been willing to work with Republicans to end the government shutdown as the stalemate enters its third week.
“I think right now I’m 1 of only 2 Democrats that are voting to keep the government open,” said Fetterman. “And I have chosen to do that because I think it’s a core responsibility as a senator to keep our government open.”
Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson predicted Monday the federal government shutdown may become the longest in history, saying he “won’t negotiate” with Democrats until they hit pause on their health care demands and reopen.
“The Democratic Party, my party, the Republican Party, they have different priorities,” Fetterman added. “And that’s how democracy, you sort those things out. But you don’t hold shutting the government down as a hostage.
“I would love to have a conversation about extending the tax credits for health care. But I would remind everybody too … this was designed by the Democratic Party to expire at the end of the year. This is not something taken from the Republicans. They were designed to expire.”
Fetterman defends his position as a Democrat
Fetterman was steadfast in his loyalty to the Democratic Party despite getting some negative feedback from his constituents.
“That’s always been my party,” he stated. “I’m the only Democrat in my family. I grew up in a conservative part of Pennsylvania. And I grew up, I knew and I loved people that voted for President Trump. But they are not fascists. They’re not Nazis. They’re not trying to destroy the Constitution and those things.
“I really believe in calling balls and strikes. And I think I want to follow the truths.”
