Democrat Split Widens as John Fetterman Denounces Far-Left’s Shutdown Strategy [WATCH]

The federal government reopened Wednesday night after the House voted 222–209 to end the shutdown that had stretched 43 days, as reported by the Gateway Pundit.

The vote followed weeks of debate in which several Democrats acknowledged they were using the shutdown as “leverage,” a strategy that caused delays in air travel and raised concerns about food insecurity for vulnerable Americans.

In the end, the tactic did not secure the policy changes they sought.

NEVER FORGET: Democrats shut down the government and admitted to using YOUR FAMILY as “leverage.”

43 days of pain and suffering.

All to give Democrats “leverage.” pic.twitter.com/xPGOvOBJAc

— House Republicans (@HouseGOP) November 13, 2025

Following the vote, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez criticized Democrats who supported reopening the government, calling them “traitors.” On NewsNation, Sen. John Fetterman addressed the criticism and explained why he opposed the shutdown strategy.

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NewsNation host Chris Cuomo asked Fetterman, “What do you make of the argument that this was your only leverage, and without this, you’re at the mercy of the Republicans, and they don’t want to cut costs?”

Fetterman replied, “No. I refuse to use American citizens, [make] food insecure, not pay our military — they are NOT my leverage.”

He added, “Those are fellow citizens. Those are the ones that I defend; those ones that I fight for. Some of them are the most vulnerable ones. I refuse to put them in the middle. Again, it’s a fundamental betrayal of what I think is our core party’s values.”

John Fetterman just casually made his own party look like MONSTERS with their “leverage” talk.

He spelled out what that leverage really means — and once you hear it this way, it makes you furious.

CUOMO: “What do you make of the argument that this was your only leverage, and… pic.twitter.com/aSCvItr65m

— Vigilant Fox (@VigilantFox) November 13, 2025

Cuomo then asked whether the shutdown reflected an attempt by “democratic socialists” to steer the party. Fetterman responded, “I promise you America’s future and my party’s future is not socialism or kinds of outlandish, far-left kinds of ideas.”

Fetterman said the party’s shift toward its most progressive wing contributed to its electoral struggles.

“It’s been a year [since] we lost the election. And part of those ideas pushed our party over the cliff. And that’s why we’re in this situation right now. That’s why we’re firmly in the minority, and that’s why we’ve lost control of the White House.”

He said the debate should be a “competition of ideas,” adding, “If you think [socialism] is a solution, that’s fine, but it’s going to be a competition of ideas, and we know that’s not going to prevail.”

According to Fetterman, “What’s going to prevail is common sense. What’s going to prevail is choosing this country over the extreme in our party. What’s going to prevail is common sense.”

Sen. Fetterman fires off a blunt message to AOC, Bernie Sanders, and every “Democratic socialist” in his party.

As they try to take over the party, Fetterman gave them this reality check:

“I promise you America’s future and my party’s future is not socialism or kinds of… pic.twitter.com/rsX4kg12qW

— Vigilant Fox (@VigilantFox) November 13, 2025

Fetterman also said Democrats should respond to President Trump with “order and logic and patriotism and not shutting down our government right now.”

He questioned why urging the government to reopen had become controversial within his party.

“That’s not a big tent party if you’re not allowed to have the opinion that it’s wrong to shut our government down and put these people in the middle of it — and now refer to [Democrats wanting to open up the government] as ‘You’re a traitor’ or these other kinds of labels.”

Fetterman has previously spoken against government shutdowns and distanced himself from rhetoric equating Republicans with “Nazis.” His latest comments mark one of his strongest rejections yet of the Democratic Party’s socialist wing.

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