John Fetterman Says This ‘One Condition’ Would Cause Him To Leave Democrat Party

Democratic Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman said Wednesday he would leave the Democratic Party if it became the “anti-Israel party.”

Israel became a dividing issue for Democrats, as 103 House Democrats voted for Republican Kentucky Rep. Thomas Massie’s amendment to slash $3.3 billion in U.S. aid to Israel. Fetterman said at The Hill Nation Summit that the party turning against Israel is the “one condition” that would get him to leave his party.

“If our party ever becomes, and just make it official, as the anti-Israel party … that’s when I would leave because that’s a bit of moral clarity for me,” Fetterman said.

Fetterman’s office did not immediately respond to the Daily Caller News Foundation’s request for comment.

Senate Democrats hope to flip four seats in the Senate and take control of the upper chamber after the midterm elections.

Fetterman has broken with his party on several occasions, including war powers resolutions and voting to confirm President Donald Trump’s nominees. He has staunchly supported Israel and continually opposed efforts to withhold U.S. military aid to the country.

In the House, Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, House Democratic Whip Katherine Clark and House Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar voted against Massie’s amendment. During a phone call in June, Democrats could not reach an agreement on how to handle the amendment, with some arguing that the party should support Israel less.

The Congressional Progressive Caucus celebrated the number of Democrats who voted for the amendment.

“It used to be that just a small number of House Democrats would vote against sending tax payer dollars or weapons for the Israeli military,” Congressional Progressive Caucus Chairman Greg Casar said at a gaggle attended by the DCNF. “Then two years ago, 37 House Democrats voted for a measure to not send billions of dollars to the Israeli military. Today, over 100 House Democrats voted for a measure to block billions of dollars in weapons to Netanyahu. That is immense progress, that is a victory for our movement, for security, peace and justice for all people.”

In 2024, only 37 Democrats voted for a similar measure that would have cut aid to Israel.

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