Fact Check: Did John Fetterman say he wouldn't run as a Democrat?

Recently, Fetterman (D-Pa) faced a sharp backlash from members of his own party for backing Mullin

BY SAURAV SURESH

PUBLISHED MAR 21, 2026

A viral rumor claims that Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa, will not run as a Democrat (AP Photos)

WASHINGTON, DC: A rumor has been circulating on social media platforms, claiming that Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman is fed up with the Democrats and has said that he wouldn’t run as a Democratic candidate. The claim has sparked speculations among netizens, with many questioning the authenticity of the claim. Let us fact-check it.

Claim: John Fetterman: 'I wouldn't run as a Democrat'

According to the viral claim, Fetterman has said that he will not rule out a 2028 Vice President run on JD Vance’s ticket (America's Last Line of Defense/Facebook)

According to the viral claim, Fetterman, the Democratic senator who is known for his feud within his own party, has said that he will not rule out a 2028 Vice President run on JD Vance’s ticket.

The claim was accompanied by a purported quote by Fetterman saying, “I wouldn't run as a Democrat. I can tell you that for damned sure.”

The claim that first surfaced as a Facebook post has garnered thousands of views, with many appearing to believe the rumor to be true.

Fact Check: False, the claim originated as a satire

Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee member Sen. John Fetterman (D-WV) votes to advance Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) to be Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security during a markup hearing in the Dirksen Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill on March 19, 2026 in Washington, DC. Committee Chairman Rand Paul (R-KY) has announced that he does not support President Donald Trump's nomination of Mullin and voted against him. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) — Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee member Sen. John Fetterman (D-WV) votes to advance Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) to be Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security during a markup hearing in the Dirksen Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill on March 19, 2026, in Washington, DC (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

The claim, however, is false, and there is no evidence that Fetterman made such a remark, despite his disagreements with the Democrats.

A search on Google yielded no relevant results supporting the claim, which, if true, would have been widely covered by credible news media outlets.

A search on Fetterman’s official social media handles also did not produce any relevant results about the remark.

Moreover, the claim was posted by a parody account called ‘America’s Last Line of Defense,’ which states in its bio, “The flagship of the ALLOD network of trollery and propaganda for cash. Nothing on this page is real.”

Similar fake and unverified claims have been posted by the page for the sake of engagement.

John Fetterman backs Markwayne Mullin’s nomination

Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) speaks to reporters outside of the U.S. Capitol Building on March 05, 2026 in Washington, DC. Earlier today U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Truth Social his intention to nominate Mullin to replace U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images) — Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) speaks to reporters outside of the US Capitol Building on March 05, 2026, in Washington, DC (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

Recently, Fetterman (D-Pa) faced a sharp backlash from members of his own party after casting the deciding vote to advance Senator Markwayne Mullin’s (R-Okla) nomination for Secretary of Homeland Security.

The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee approved the nomination in an 8–7 vote, with Fetterman siding with Republicans while all other Democrats and Committee Chair Rand Paul (R-Ky) voted against it.

The vote triggered strong reactions from Democratic lawmakers, with some openly questioning Fetterman’s alignment and calling for political consequences.

Fetterman’s vote proved decisive in moving Mullin’s nomination out of committee and onto the Senate floor. The outcome came despite unified Democratic opposition and dissent from Chairman Rand Paul.