Senator John Fetterman (D-PA) criticized Democrats for the ongoing Schumer Shutdown, accusing them of holding the government hostage while suggesting they are prioritizing their party's own interests over the best interests of the American people.
Fetterman made several comments during NewsNation’s live town hall at the Kennedy Center on Wednesday that demonstrate why he is considered a maverick among Democrats in the Senate.
“I follow country, then party,” he explained.
What a novel idea.
“You don’t hold the government hostage,” Fetterman added, noting that the Schumer shutdown is “what the Democratic Party wants to do.”
“I follow country, then party,” Sen. @JohnFetterman, D-Pa., tells @BillOReilly. “It’s the wrong thing for the country, and in a period of chaos, I refuse to shut our government down.”
— NewsNation (@NewsNation) October 16, 2025
MORE: https://t.co/D3j10Ja74k pic.twitter.com/zSYDigXIrj
READ MORE: Democrat Leader Issues Plea Over Violent Rhetoric After Fatal Church Shooting, Gets It Half Right
On Loathsome Rhetoric, One Democrat Senator Opts Out - John Fetterman
Fetterman pointed out that he is one of only two Democrats to cross the aisle and vote for the clean continuing resolution to keep the government open.
“It’s the wrong thing for the country, and in a period of chaos, I refuse to shut our government down," he said.
The Pennsylvania senator also pointedly slammed some of the more extreme elements of his own party by explaining why he refuses to refer to his political opponents as "fascists" or "Nazis" - verbiage that has led to an uptick in left-wing violence in this country.
“I know and I love people who voted for President Trump. But they are not fascists, they’re not Nazis, they’re not trying to destroy the Constitution and those things," he insisted. "I refuse to call people Nazis or fascists. I would never compare anybody — anybody to Hitler.”
John Fetterman brings the Kennedy Center to complete silence as he delivers this emotional message on stage:
— Vigilant Fox 🦊 (@VigilantFox) October 16, 2025
“I know and I love people who voted for President Trump. They are NOT fascists, they’re NOT Nazis, they’re NOT trying to destroy the Constitution.”
“I REFUSE to call… pic.twitter.com/f9U8tnYlJy
Isn't it remarkable that perfectly reasonable comments like this actually stand out in today's Democrat party?
Fetterman explained that continuing to use incendiary labels to describe people with whom you disagree is going to cause violence in this country to continue.
He pointed to the Charlie Kirk assassination, saying he, unlike some elements within his party, finds it abhorrent to use the death of the conservative icon to make political points.
"Let people grieve — give people the space. I’m not going to use that terrible thing and that tragic assassination to make my argument and try to put out my views," he told a now-hushed crowd.
Fetterman went on to point out that the country was almost plunged into utter chaos when President Trump narrowly avoided a bullet in Butler.
“It’s like, my God, he’s a father that had his neck blown out by a bullet. And now people have forgotten President Trump was — in my state — was shot in the head. Could you imagine where our nation would be if he were hit in the same way with Kirk?" he asked.
"We've really got to turn the temperature down.”
You know what reasonable commentary gets you in the Democrat party? Calls for less violence? Pointing out that the resistance is only interested in scoring cheap political points and not helping the American people?
Well, it gets you ousted. At least that's what Democrats are now trying to do to Fetterman.
An Axios report this morning indicates that top Democrats in Pennsylvania are "maneuvering to run against Sen. John Fetterman in a 2028 primary contest," a move that is "threatening to tear the party apart in the biggest battleground state in the nation."
They can't stand the fact that this guy is onto their games. They're even willing to sacrifice a Senate seat to prove their intolerance.
Editor’s Note: The Schumer Shutdown is here. Rather than put the American people first, Chuck Schumer and the radical Democrats forced a government shutdown for healthcare for illegals. They own this.
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