Senator John Fetterman (D-PA) has strongly criticized progressive Democrats who are threatening to abandon President Joe Biden, calling it the “dumbest thing” he has ever heard. Fetterman expressed his frustration during an interview on Fox News Sunday with host Shannon Bream, where he discussed the backlash from some of his party colleagues over his support for Israel’s ongoing campaign against Hamas in Gaza. Fetterman, who recently visited Israel and met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, described the meeting as “an honor.”
There is growing dissatisfaction among progressive groups with Biden’s handling of the war and his relations with Israel. This discontent has been further fueled by Biden’s performance in the recent presidential debate. When asked about the impact of the progressive wing’s dissent on Biden’s ability to unify the Democrats and win reelection, Fetterman did not hold back.
“The whole Abandon Biden thing, that’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard,” Fetterman said. “If you are more inclined to vote for a Democrat or be a Democrat, if you are willing to walk away from Joe Biden, you are by de facto helping Trump, and that’s really what it is. If that kind of movement has that kind of move and they want to play with that kind of fire, they better earn that burn.”
Fetterman emphasized the importance of unity within the Democratic Party, especially now that some have turned their backs on Biden. “It’s going to mean everyone is going to be all hands on deck,” he said. “This is a very stark choice. What kind of president do you want for the next four years?”
He contrasted Biden’s vision for America with that of former President Donald Trump. “What do you want to talk about? The things these men are obsessed with: one is rebuilding America and taking us in a better direction, or Donald Trump, who is obsessed with revenge. He has been very clear, he is here to be retribution, and I do not believe the presidential office should ever be weaponized against the people in this America who happen to disagree with you.”
Fetterman also defended Biden as the Democratic nominee despite concerns about his ability to continue his campaign following the CNN presidential debate. Reflecting on his own experience during his senatorial election, Fetterman said, “One debate is not a career any more than Donald Trump’s 38 convictions for felonies are really going to define his reputation and his presidency.”
Bream corrected him, noting that Trump has 34 felony charges and is awaiting sentencing. Fetterman remained steadfast in his support for Biden, urging Democrats to stay united and focused on the bigger picture.
In a separate interview, Fetterman reiterated his stance, saying, “That whole abandon Biden thing, that’s the dumbest shit I’ve ever heard. If you are more inclined to vote for a Democrat or be a Democrat, if you’re willing to walk away from Joe Biden, you’re, by defecting, helping Trump.”
He warned Democrats who are considering abandoning Biden that they are playing with fire. “I had a difficult debate, and yet we still managed to go on to win,” Fetterman said, referencing his challenging 2022 Senate run debate with Republican rival Mehmet Oz. Despite stumbling on words due to a stroke he suffered during the race, Fetterman won by a significant margin.
“Now, everybody was calling that the end of my career, that was the end of this race, and everyone was predicting that I was going to lose actually by 2 points or more,” he recalled. “And I smoked Oz by 5 points. And that’s what I’m saying. It’s like, one debate is not a career.”
Fetterman also took to social media to respond to the immediate aftermath of Biden’s debate, calling for Democrats to “chill the fuck out.” He wrote on X, formerly Twitter, “I refuse to join the Democratic vultures on Biden’s shoulder after the debate. No one knows more than me that a rough debate is not the sum total of the person and their record.”
He continued, “Morning-after thermonuclear beat downs from my race from the debate and polling geniuses like 538 predicted I’d lose by 2. And what happened? The only seat to flip and won by a historic margin (+5).”
Fetterman’s comments highlight the internal struggle within the Democratic Party as it navigates the challenges of unifying its base and preparing for the upcoming presidential election. His strong defense of Biden underscores the importance of party unity in the face of growing opposition from within.
Source: Fox News, X (formerly Twitter)
