Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) expressed indifference Saturday to cratering support from Democratic voters and doubled down on one of his most polarizing positions during an appearance on CNN: his support for Israel.
Fetterman's Unwavering Stance
Fetterman joined “Smerconish” and shared unbridled support for President Donald Trump and his war on Iran, siding with a Wall Street Journal column from lawyer David Boies that urged Democrats not to pressure Trump to curtail “the mission” before it is “accomplished.”
“You know, every country that consumes oil, that’s your war, too,” Fetterman told host Michael Smerconish. “I don’t want to hear any more, like, ‘Well, that’s not our war.’ Well, do you use oil? You know, do you, do you like peace? Yeah, well then it makes it your war now, too.”
The Pennsylvania Democrat accurately noted that the war led Iran to close the Strait of Hormuz, through which a fifth of the world’s oil passes, threatening to trigger a global energy crisis. He failed to note, however, that it was open before Trump launched his war.
Plummeting Approval Ratings
Fetterman, who has been a staunch advocate for Israel, has had a staggering drop in his approval rating from Democratic voters. He was the only Democratic senator to vote against a War Powers Resolution earlier this week to curtail Trump in the unpopular conflict.
Despite Democratic voters having widespread criticism of Israel and the war on Iran, and a recent Punchbowl News report showing no Pennsylvania House Democrat wants to back Fetterman for reelection, he stood firm when asked if he’s “willing to die” on the Israel “hill.”
“Oh, yeah,” said Fetterman. “I mean, you know, the only Democrat to stand with Israel.” He continued, “Yeah, it’s a ‘die.’ You know, like, I could never be just sitting quiet or saying things that I don’t happen to believe to. Like, I know what polls say, consistently, as long as this goes on, Israel becomes more and more toxic, but I’m always going to lean in more.”
Controversial Support for Netanyahu
The State Department has openly acknowledged that U.S. military aggressions against Iran were launched “at the request of” Israel, a claim Secretary of State Marco Rubio himself made at the time before awkwardly walking it back. Fetterman has continued to support Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, despite the International Criminal Court accusing him of war crimes in the Gaza genocide — a term Fetterman has refused to accept despite its use by numerous humanitarian organizations.
“And so, yes, thank you for asking,” he told Smerconish about his question. “Yes, it is a die, a hill, because a lot more things are more important than my standing in the Democratic Party. This is such a profound, profound situation.”
Fetterman continued, “If we walk away from this, just because Trump might be perceived as losing it, but America would definitely would lose, and Israel, especially, and the region, as well, too.”
