Comedian and podcaster Jon Stewart grilled Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) after Fetterman defended his stance on supporting Israel, which differs from many in the Democratic Party.
“I can’t ever turn my back to Israel,” Fetterman said on The Weekly Show with Jon Stewart podcast on Tuesday.
Stewart challenged Fetterman, suggesting that his support for Israel is the one issue that sets him apart from the Democratic Party. “You could agree with them 90%, but Israel is the red line?” Stewart asked.
“I mean no disrespect on this, but that is not our country,” Stewart pressed.
Stewart pointed to socialist candidates, including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), Michigan Democratic Senate nominee Abdul el Sayed, and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), who are leading critics of the Israeli government. Stewart suggested, based solely on their stance toward Israel, that Fetterman would prefer they not be part of the Democratic Party.
Fetterman seemingly dodged the question.
Fetterman’s support of Israel, while many in his party have not been as supportive, is the latest issue where he has differed from his party. Fetterman also did not support Democrats amid the government shutdown over funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement, as well as voting with republicans in maintaining President Donald Trump’s war powers, and voted to confirm then-Sen. Markwayne Mullin’s nomination to lead the Department of Homeland Security.
“What I’m saying is like if you are a DSA member, if you are a member of a specific political party run under your own banner, and now, I think Bill Maher said something very insightfully. He said, ‘You know the DSA are colonizing the Democratic Party. So just be Democrats if you’re going to run under the Democratic Party,’” Fetterman said.
Stewart pushed back on his point again, “You’re literally saying we can all have discussions, except when it comes to Israel, which is not America. It seems like a weird line to draw.”
“I don’t think that’s weird. I think that history demonstrates is that when people or a government or people turn their back to the Jewish community, things end really badly and it’s dangerous,” Fetterman said.
Stewart looked visibly shocked at Fetterman’s statement.
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“Jewish community and Israel are not the same thing, brother man. That is not the same thing,” Stewart replied.
“If I have to pick a side for after 10/7, and after Iran, I’m always going to stand with Israel. I’m always going to vote and support whatever that’s necessary to protect themselves and to prosecute Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran, too,” Fetterman said.