Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania suggested Saturday that he could reconsider his future in the Democratic Party if Maryland Sen. Chris Van Hollen becomes Senate majority leader, citing disagreements over Israel and questioning whether his Democratic colleague is qualified to lead the chamber.
During an appearance on Fox News’ “Saturday in America,” Fetterman criticized Van Hollen’s campaign to replace Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York, accusing the Maryland Democrat of building his political reputation around opposition to Israel.
Fetterman’s remarks came after host Kayleigh McEnany asked whether he would remain a Democrat if Van Hollen won the leadership contest.
The political news that affects your wallet, your rights and your vote, broken down in plain language. Free in your inbox.
Fetterman responded by questioning Van Hollen’s political record and criticizing his relationship with progressive Democrats.
“Other than that, I can’t really think of what Van Hollen’s known for, but he became like a progressive darling,” Fetterman said.
He also criticized Van Hollen’s 2025 trip to El Salvador to meet Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Maryland resident who was mistakenly deported by the Trump administration. Fetterman referred to Abrego Garcia as a “wife-beating guy,” invoking allegations of domestic abuse against him.
Van Hollen traveled to El Salvador to investigate Abrego Garcia’s detention and advocate for his return to the United States after federal courts found problems with his deportation.
McEnany then asked Fetterman whether the Democratic Party moving further left could cross a political boundary that would cause him to leave.
“Yeah, absolutely,” Fetterman replied.
He described Van Hollen’s possible election as majority leader as “troubling,” arguing that Democrats should focus more attention on Iran and militant groups such as Hamas and Hezbollah rather than criticizing Israel.
“If you are going to be angry or hostile towards any countries in the region, why not make that, you know, Iran? Or Hezbollah? Or Hamas as well too?” Fetterman asked.
View this post on Instagram
Fetterman also questioned why Democrats have sought to restrict certain forms of military assistance to Israel, arguing that Iran should face greater scrutiny for its activities in the Middle East.
His criticism reflects a longstanding disagreement between the two senators over American foreign policy and the Israeli government’s military operations.
Fetterman has consistently defended Israel and opposed efforts by some Democrats to condition American military assistance on changes in Israeli government policy.
Van Hollen, meanwhile, has criticized Israeli military operations that have resulted in Palestinian civilian casualties and has called for stronger oversight of U.S. weapons transfers. He has also advocated for humanitarian assistance to Palestinians and accountability for violations of international law.
Fetterman’s characterization of Van Hollen as hostile to Israel represents his political assessment of those positions, rather than an established description of the Maryland senator’s record.
Despite his criticism, Fetterman did not explicitly say he would leave the Democratic Party if Van Hollen wins.
McEnany pressed him directly on that possibility, asking whether he could walk away from Democrats if Van Hollen became majority leader.
“Well, I don’t know how that’s going to look, but I am a Democrat,” Fetterman responded.
The exchange comes as Van Hollen mounts a challenge to Schumer following Democrats’ sweeping victories in the November midterm elections.
Van Hollen has argued that the election results demonstrate a demand for new leadership and a more aggressive legislative agenda focused on economic inequality, corporate influence and the cost of living.
During an appearance on MS NOW earlier this week, Van Hollen said Democrats must move beyond their traditional approach to governing.
“The call was really to reject the status quo and to reject business as usual. And to do that, I think we need new leadership,” Van Hollen said.
He also argued that the party’s expanded Senate majority presents an opportunity to pursue legislation addressing the concerns of working Americans.
“While voters have rejected the Trump policies, they’ve not yet hired Democrats. They’ve given us a chance. We have to earn their trust,” Van Hollen said.
Fetterman has remained supportive of Schumer, placing him at odds with Democrats who believe the party needs a change in leadership.
According to The Washington Post, Van Hollen has secured public support from several members of the incoming Senate class, while more than a dozen Democratic senators have expressed support for Schumer.
The leadership contest is expected to be decided by Democratic senators in early December.
The Senate majority leader plays a central role in determining which legislation reaches the floor, coordinating the party’s legislative priorities and negotiating with congressional leaders and the White House.
A decision by Fetterman to leave the Democratic Party would not automatically change control of the Senate. The consequences would depend on whether he became an independent, continued working with Democrats or joined Republicans.
For now, Fetterman remains a Democrat, and his comments represent a warning about the party’s direction rather than a formal announcement of his departure.
His remarks also introduce another complication into Van Hollen’s leadership campaign as Democrats prepare to decide who will guide their newly won Senate majority.
