John Fetterman claims Democrats' 'big tent' favors 'America deserved 9/11' over pro-Israel voices

WASHINGTON, DC: Senator John Fetterman, a Democrat from Pennsylvania, argued that his party now seems more willing to embrace voices claiming America "deserved 9/11" than those who stand firmly with Israel.

He said this shift has pushed him further away from certain parts of the Democratic base. Fetterman made the remarks during a conversation at the Texas Tribune Festival in Austin, where he responded to CBS News' Major Garrett.

Garrett asked whether Fetterman could ever imagine leaving the Democratic Party, prompting the senator to explain the tensions he feels over the party’s stance on Israel.

John Fetterman criticizes Democrats over Hasan Piker

"It's easier to be included in that big tent to say 'America deserved 9/11' or America is 'worse than Al-Qaeda' than being very proud to stand on the side of Israel," Fetterman said.

"More and more members of my caucus are becoming more and more anti-Israel."

Fetterman's reference to America "deserved 9/11" was directed at streamer Hasan Piker, who made the remark during a 2019 livestream before later clarifying that he "obviously" did not believe Americans deserved the attacks.

Fetterman pointed to the interest in Piker's appearances as evidence of where he believes political enthusiasm is building on the left. 

"I'm just describing that's where a lot of the energy on the left is in my party," Fetterman said.

Democrats' changing stance on Israel

The exchange comes amid a shift in Democratic attitudes toward Israel.

A Pew Research Center survey conducted in March found that 80% of Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents held an unfavorable view of Israel, up from 53% in 2022. Overall, 60% of American adults viewed Israel unfavorably.

"80% Democrats have a negative view on Israel," Fetterman said. 

"If America stops supporting Israel or turns their back on Israel, that must mean that we don't even believe in ourselves anymore. I mean that's that's our special ally and that is the kinds of values and the kinds of the you know how we live here that's that only exists in one place in that region and that's that's Israel."

"If our party ever becomes, and just makes it official, the anti-Israel party, that's when I would leave, because that's been a moral clarity for me," Fetterman said.

Fetterman also brought up resolutions introduced by Bernie Sanders, linking them to the debate over Democrats pushing back against US military aid to Israel.

In April, 40 Senate Democrats voted against a $295 million sale of bulldozers to Israel, while 36 voted to block a $151.8 million deal for 1,000-pound bombs. 

However, those resolutions did not concern Iron Dome funding. Fetterman pointed this out on Saturday, saying that Iron Dome is a clear example of defensive, rather than offensive, support for Israel.