Fetterman Breaks With Democrats Over Prolonged Government Shutdown, Says He’ll ‘Pay the Price’ if Necessary
Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) made waves Wednesday night after telling Fox News host Sean Hannity that he’s willing to “pay a price” to help end the ongoing government shutdown — even if it means breaking ranks with his own party.
“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 during the interview.
The Pennsylvania senator, now in his second year in office, has become one of the few Democrats openly criticizing the shutdown and his party’s handling of it. He stressed that his focus remains on maintaining funding for essential services — including the military and Capitol Police — rather than engaging in partisan standoffs. Fetterman noted that he is among 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 Hannity. “It’s wrong to shut our government down.”
Earlier Wednesday, Fetterman took to X to describe the 22-day shutdown as a “failure,” calling for renewed cooperation to restore funding to critical federal programs.
The senator specifically voiced concern over potential cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which provides food aid to about 42 million low-income Americans. Fetterman said he would not support any measure that threatens the program.
“I refuse to vote to suspend SNAP for millions of Pennsylvanians in my state and across the entire nation,” he said. “That’s going to be suspended because our government is shut down. I can’t ever vote for that kind of mass food insecurity.”
Fetterman also took aim at what he called “extreme” rhetoric from members of his own party, including comparisons of former President Donald Trump to Adolf Hitler.
“Extreme kinds of rhetoric make it easier for those extreme kinds of actions,” he warned. “I refuse to be a part of it and comparing people to Hitler and those things. If that’s what’s required to win, then I refuse to.”
The senator argued that such inflammatory language is eroding civility in American politics. “We’ve lost the plot,” he said, adding, “I refuse to call my fellow citizens fascists or Nazis or those things. 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.”
Calling for a return to decency and cooperation in Washington, Fetterman said he is prepared 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, according to Fox News.
Fetterman’s continued defiance of party leadership has reportedly unsettled some Democrats. According to Axios, several prominent Pennsylvania Democrats — including Rep. Brendan Boyle, Rep. Chris Deluzio, and former Rep. Conor Lamb — are being discussed as potential primary challengers in 2028 when Fetterman’s Senate seat is up for re-election, The Daily Mail reported.
When asked about the reports, Fetterman appeared unfazed. “Enjoy your clickbait!” he told an Axios reporter, before adding, “Please do not contact.”
Despite speculation of a challenge, Fetterman has shown no public concern. Axios also noted that those close to him believe he harbors long-term presidential ambitions and sees himself as a leading voice in reshaping the Democratic Party.
In a recent appearance on Fox News’ Sunday Morning Futures with Maria Bartiromo, Fetterman even praised former President Trump’s peace deal between Israel and Hamas, saying he felt “absolute elation” over the breakthrough — a stance that sharply contrasted with many of his Democratic colleagues, who have been hesitant to credit Trump for his foreign policy successes.
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