Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) told Hannity on Wednesday that he\u2019s willing to \u201cpay a price\u201d to help reopen the government \u2014 even if it means breaking ranks with his own party as the shutdown drags into its fourth week.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am always going to vote country over my party, and if I pay a price within my base, that\u2019s something I am willing to do,\u201d Fetterman said.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m not afraid to tell my truth and if I\u2019m going to pay a penalty, I\u2019m not afraid of that,\u201d Fetterman told Sean Hannity. \u201cIt\u2019s wrong to shut our government down.\u201d<\/p>\n
The remarks come after Fetterman described the 22-day government shutdown as a \u201cfailure\u201d in a post on X on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cI refuse to vote to suspend SNAP for millions of Pennsylvanians in my state and across the entire nation,\u201d he insisted.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s going to be suspended because our government is shut down,\u201d the Pennsylvania Democrat told Hannity. \u201cI can\u2019t ever vote for that kind of mass food insecurity.\u201d<\/p>\n
The senator also criticized what he called \u201cextreme\u201d rhetoric from party leaders, pointing to instances in which President Donald Trump has been labeled a \u201cfascist.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cExtreme kinds of rhetoric make it easier for those extreme kinds of actions,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI refuse to be a part of it and comparing people to Hitler and those things,\u201d he added. \u201cIf that\u2019s what\u2019s required to win, then I refuse to.\u201d<\/p>\n
Fetterman warned that the kind of inflammatory language being used by members of his party is steering the country in the wrong direction, adding, \u201cWe\u2019ve lost the plot.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI refuse to call my fellow citizens fascists or Nazis or those things,\u201d Fetterman said. \u201cIf somebody wants to primary me or the party wants to vote me out, I\u2019m going to go down being honest and telling you that this is wrong.\u201d<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s just basic humanity and we\u2019re forgetting that we all need each other,\u201d he concluded, per Fox News<\/a>.<\/p>\n Fetterman\u2019s continual bucking of his own party on key issues could soon spark<\/a> a major challenge from left-wing Democrats.<\/p>\n 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\u00a0reported<\/a>.<\/p>\n When asked about those reports, Fetterman brushed off the question. \u201cEnjoy your clickbait!\u201d he told an Axios reporter, before adding, \u201cPlease do not contact.\u201d<\/p>\n Despite the speculation, Fetterman has given no indication that he\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n During a recent appearance on Fox News\u2019\u00a0Sunday Morning Futures<\/em>\u00a0with Maria Bartiromo, Fetterman expressed support for President Trump\u2019s peace deal between Israel and Hamas, saying he felt \u201cabsolute elation\u201d over the breakthrough.<\/p>\n His praise stood in stark contrast to many of his Democratic colleagues, who have been reluctant to credit Trump for his foreign policy achievements.<\/p>\n