John Fetterman tells Benjamin Netanyahu he's Democrats' 'conscience,' blasts party over Israel

WASHINGTON, DC: Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pennsylvania, met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at Blair House in Washington, where he sharply criticized New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and accused fellow Democrats of abandoning their support for Israel.

The meeting, which was documented and shared publicly, featured Fetterman describing himself as the "conscience of the Democratic Party" while reaffirming his backing for Israel. Netanyahu, in turn, praised the senator for what he called his steadfast support of the US-Israel alliance.

John Fetterman criticizes Democrats over Israel during Netanyahu meeting

The meeting opened with Netanyahu praising Fetterman directly.

"You've been a stellar patriot, talking about what is good for America, what is good for our alliance," Netanyahu told the senator, adding that he had "been receiving, from around the world, kudos" for Fetterman's positions on Israel.

The Pennsylvania senator, who has broken with many Democrats over Israel policy since October 7, did not hold back in criticizing the direction of his party.

"It's been disappointing, as a Democratic politician, how our party continues to behave," Fetterman told Netanyahu, pointing to a recent episode involving New York City's mayor questioning Netanyahu's welcome in the city as emblematic of that shift.

Fetterman said he believed he stood largely alone among Democrats in pushing back on that kind of rhetoric.

"As far as I know, I was the only Democrat that was proud to push that trash back," he said, adding, "I'm proud to stand with Israel through everything."

Fetterman went further, framing his support for Israel as part of a broader role he sees himself playing within his party.

"I'm proud to remain the conscience of the Democratic Party in Congress," he told Netanyahu, "not just the Senate, but over in Congress, overall."

The senator also pointed to his past support for US and Israeli military operations against Iran-backed groups, including last year's strikes against Hamas and Hezbollah.

"It's always been a just war for me," he said, adding that he does not "understand how we've arrived with where we are politically" within his own party, but said he has "no regrets."

Netanyahu thanked Fetterman for what he described as consistent support.

"I think history will record your contribution to truth and justice," Netanyahu told him. "These are not just words that are coming out from my mouth; they're coming out from my heart."

John Fetterman calls Zohran Mamdani 'worthless' over Netanyahu remarks

Asked about Mamdani's earlier comments suggesting Netanyahu could be arrested under an International Criminal Court warrant if he traveled to New York for the UN General Assembly, Fetterman did not mince words.

"We had the culmination of that, where that worthless mayor in New York" made "these kinds of ridiculous claims," Fetterman said, according to the exchange shared from the meeting.

Fetterman reiterated that he believed he was the only Democrat to publicly reject Mamdani's position.

"As far as I know, I was the only Democrat that was proud to push that trash back," he said, adding, "I'm proud to stand with Israel through everything."

Mamdani has since acknowledged that New York City does not have the legal authority to enforce the ICC warrant while continuing to urge the federal government to act on it, a distinction that has largely been overshadowed in the political back-and-forth.

The meeting comes ahead of Netanyahu's planned visit to New York for the UN General Assembly in September, a trip that has already become a flashpoint among Democrats over how to engage with his government amid the continuing war in Gaza.