Fetterman Renews Threat to Leave Democrats Over Van Hollen

On “Saturday in America,” host Kayleigh McEnany, a former Trump White House press secretary, raised Fetterman’s efforts to oppose Democratic Socialists of America-endorsed candidates in midterm races. She played clips in which he called progressives “incredibly anti-American” and said they were “willing to even wipe their mouths with the American flag.” Fetterman also criticized what he called “the dancing days of the dirtbag left” and said he did not get along with Sen.-elect Abdul El-Sayed (D-Mich.), whom he accused, without evidence, of supporting Sharia law.

Asked whether a move by the party to the left would prompt him to walk away, Fetterman answered, “Yeah, absolutely.” He said it would be troubling if his caucus chose Van Hollen, a Maryland Democrat challenging Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer for the post of majority leader. Fetterman called Van Hollen hostile to Israel and said Democrats’ “first instincts are to punish Israel.”

Van Hollen has criticized Israel’s conduct in Gaza and supported measures to halt sales of offensive weapons to the country. A UN commission of inquiry and other experts have described Israel’s actions in Gaza as genocide; the International Court of Justice has found the occupation of the West Bank illegal and characterized it as apartheid. Israel faces a genocide case at the ICJ. The International Criminal Court has issued an arrest warrant for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza, including murder and forced starvation.

Fetterman said progressives “can’t identify Iran as an enemy” and are “committed to destroying Israel and our nation as well.” He also described himself as “pro-data center” and said he remained a Democrat, adding, “I don’t expect my party to change, but I’m always going to put our country before party.” He separately called Pennsylvania Democratic Senate candidate Ahmed Moor, who was born in Gaza, “very... pro-Hamas,” an accusation the source describes as false.

Fetterman has not said whether he will seek reelection in 2028. Track AIPAC says he has received nearly half a million dollars in contributions from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee’s United Democracy Project and other Zionist interests. President Donald Trump has urged him to switch parties; Fetterman has voted with Republicans on issues including the Iran War and approval of Trump’s nominees. The threat drew criticism from progressive commentators Sarah Jones and Jason Easley and from The Contrarian editor-in-chief Jen Rubin.