Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) cautioned that if individuals opt not to participate in the November election, they will bear the responsibility for the “tragedy” of former President Trump being reelected.
In a new interview with USA Today, the first-term senator said he isn’t worried about progressives who threaten to abstain from the general election over the United States’s response to the conflict in Gaza.
“Go ahead. And then when you get the second term of Trump, you’ve got to own that tragedy,” said Fetterman, who has lost some backing within his own party for his unwavering support of Israel in its war, like President Biden.
Still, Fetterman said he believes voters will turn out for Biden once they realize a second Trump presidency is possible and imminent.
“I trust in democracy. If they — voters — turn their backside to the stove, that fire is going to burn,” Fetterman said. “It’s really that kind of a choice right now.”
His comments come after progressive groups have urged voters participating in presidential primaries in several states to vote “uncommitted” to “apply political pressure on the Biden Administration to reevaluate its stance on the War in Gaza.”
According to USA Today, more than 60,000 Pennsylvania voters chose the write-in option during the April primary.
The swing state, which went to Biden in 2020, will be closely watched in the rematch this fall between Biden and Trump. The primary had lower than average turnout, but Fetterman said he believes voters will show up for Biden in the polls.
“I do believe that American people will be presented with that incredibly stark choice” in the election, he said, “and I think they’re going to make the right choice.”
Despite receiving criticism from people in his voting base, who say his response to the war makes him not the candidate they voted into office, Fetterman is unwavering in his support for Israel and his commitment to help Biden get reelected.
