U.S. Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) launched a sharp critique against Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) following the primary victory of Michigan Democratic U.S. Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed, arguing that Sanders’ backing of Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) candidates harms the party’s general election chances.
Fetterman rejected calls on Fox News Hannity to rally behind El-Sayed, questioning Sanders’ political strategy and campaign track record in competitive states.
“I would like to remind everybody watching right now, you know, Bernie Sanders will never represent any more than 640,000 people in Vermont,” Fetterman said. “That’s all he’s ever done, and he ever will do. You know, he’s lost his — he’s never won an actual competitive election. Stop giving me lectures on how to win.”
Fetterman asserted that Sanders’ alignment with DSA-backed candidates poses electoral risks for Democrats trying to maintain their Senate majority.
“Bernie’s not flipping seats. He is helping install volatile and dangerous kinds of candidates and will put Democratic seats at risk. I’ve flipped seats. He’s never done that thing. I’m tired of his lectures overall,” Fetterman said. “And now he claims that he’s not a member of the Democratic party. You know, why can’t the DSA people just — they should just run as their own party?”
The Pennsylvania senator singled out El-Sayed, directly refusing to unify with the Michigan nominee despite calls from party leaders to rally ahead of the November general election against Republican candidate Mike Rogers. In an interview with CNN’s Wolf Blitzer, Fetterman pointed to policy stances regarding the Middle East and foreign relations as non-negotiable obstacles.
“I can’t come together with someone if you are willing to embrace people that loves Hamas, or that thinks America deserved 9/11,” Fetterman said. “I think that’s reasonable. And I think that’s the reasonable view, being able to kind of be like, well, maybe in pride, ignore those things. That’s not a big tent situation. There are things that are unacceptable to have these views as a Democrat, I think.”
Referring to support for Israel, Fetterman added, “Are we willing to turn our back to Israel? You know, history has demonstrated that if a nation or people will turn their back to the Jewish community, that has some very tragic outcomes.”
Addressing personal insults exchanged during the primary campaign, Fetterman recalled comments made by El-Sayed and questioned his appeal across the state.
“Oh, yeah, yeah, the tough guy, he called me ugly, and then I should be on a pike. And I’m like, chief, I own mirrors. I know I’m an ugly guy,” Fetterman said. “But if you want to put me on a pike, I mean, he has like a really like a little man syndrome kind of energy. And now he was really arrogant in that race. And now he have just found out that, you know, less than a majority of Democrats want him.”
When asked by Blitzer if El-Sayed could lose the seat to Rogers in November, Fetterman warned that the race remains in jeopardy.
“Oh, 100 percent, that’s possible. Without a doubt,” Fetterman said. “I mean, the polling seems to indicate that it is in danger.”
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