Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) told Hannity on Wednesday that he’s willing to “pay a price” to help reopen the government — even if it means breaking ranks with his own party as the shutdown drags into its fourth week.
“I am always going to vote country over my party, and if I pay a price within my base, that’s something I am willing to do,” Fetterman said.
Fetterman has been outspoken in his criticism of the ongoing government shutdown, emphasizing that his focus remains on ensuring funding for the military and Capitol Police rather than engaging in partisan disputes. He noted that he is one of only two Democrats who have voted to keep the government open.
“I’m not afraid to tell my truth and if I’m going to pay a penalty, I’m not afraid of that,” Fetterman told Sean Hannity. “It’s wrong to shut our government down.”
The remarks come after Fetterman described the 22-day government shutdown as a “failure” in a post on X on Wednesday.
Impending cuts to key federal programs have resonated with the Pennsylvania Democrat, who has called for renewed efforts to end the impasse and restore funding.
“I refuse to vote to suspend SNAP for millions of Pennsylvanians in my state and across the entire nation,” he insisted.
About 42 million Americans depend on food purchased through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which provides aid to low-income families to help them afford nutritious groceries. The largely federally funded program is expected to face cuts if the government shutdown continues.
“That’s going to be suspended because our government is shut down,” the Pennsylvania Democrat told Hannity. “I can’t ever vote for that kind of mass food insecurity.”
The senator also criticized what he called “extreme” rhetoric from party leaders, pointing to instances in which President Donald Trump has been labeled a “fascist.”
“Extreme kinds of rhetoric make it easier for those extreme kinds of actions,” he said.
“I refuse to be a part of it and comparing people to Hitler and those things,” he added. “If that’s what’s required to win, then I refuse to.”
Fetterman warned that the kind of inflammatory language being used by members of his party is steering the country in the wrong direction, adding, “We’ve lost the plot.”
“I refuse to call my fellow citizens fascists or Nazis or those things,” Fetterman said. “If somebody wants to primary me or the party wants to vote me out, I’m going to go down being honest and telling you that this is wrong.”
Fetterman called on both parties to restore a sense of decency and cooperation in Washington, saying he is willing to face political backlash if it means standing by his convictions.
“It’s just basic humanity and we’re forgetting that we all need each other,” he concluded, per Fox News.
Fetterman’s continual bucking of his own party on key issues could soon spark a major challenge from left-wing Democrats.
Axios reported that several prominent Pennsylvania Democrats, including Rep. Brendan Boyle, Rep. Chris Deluzio, and former Rep. Conor Lamb, are being floated as possible primary challengers to Fetterman in 2028, when his Senate seat is up for re-election, The Daily Mail reported.
When asked about those reports, Fetterman brushed off the question. “Enjoy your clickbait!” he told an Axios reporter, before adding, “Please do not contact.”
Despite the speculation, Fetterman has given no indication that he’s concerned. Axios also noted that people close to him say he has long harbored presidential ambitions and sees himself as a national voice in the reshaping of the Democratic Party.
During a recent appearance on Fox News’ Sunday Morning Futures with Maria Bartiromo, Fetterman expressed support for President Trump’s peace deal between Israel and Hamas, saying he felt “absolute elation” over the breakthrough.
His praise stood in stark contrast to many of his Democratic colleagues, who have been reluctant to credit Trump for his foreign policy achievements.