John Fetterman Straight Up Says ‘I’m Not Going to Be a Republican’

Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) insisted Wednesday he will not be joining the Republican Party, no matter how many disagreements he might have with the Democratic Party.

“I’m not going to be a Republican, and I would just remind anybody that I’ve been very clear on that,” Fetterman said in interview with Meet the Press NOW.

He added, “I don’t think that Republican Party wants a pro-choice, pro-gay, trans communities, federal union, and you look at my voting records… I disagree with my party on some issues like Israel, for example. But you know, I am a Democrat, and if someone is frustrated in the Democratic Party, I would be I would be frustrated with someone like Bernie Sanders.”

Fetterman also insisted cutting off aid to Israel “is not my red line” after over 100 House Democrats voted in favor of cutting funding.

“But it’s not something I’m surprised for overall. You know, the one thing that I’ve read that was was more now Leader [Hakeem] Jeffries put out a letter saying that he’s going to vote against that, and what I read in Axios, they said that that brought maybe 30 to 40 people along with him on that,” Fetterman said. “So if you start reaching now, maybe approaching 150 Democrats. Now, then, that’s outrageous.We’re the Democratic Party. You know, where is the only country in that region that that has our kinds of values and protects women and minorities and allows people to to live their lives? You know, free speech and for all those things. That’s just Israel.”

On Tuesday Fox’s America’s Newsroom host Bill Hemmer mused Fetterman could be something of a Lindsey Graham-esque figure in the Democratic Party.

“Here’s a guy who was voted 93% of the time with Democrats, all right? But Israel is his red line. When his party continues to abandon what’s happening with the Israeli government and vote against aid to Israel, he says he will leave the party,” Hemmer said.

He added, “If John Fetterman were to leave the Democratic Party and become an Independent, he would be the most powerful politician in America because of his singular vote. It hasn’t been that way in 25 years.”

Watch the above via NBC News.

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