Fetterman Tells ABC He ‘Never Believed’ Trump-Harris Fight Was About ‘Fascism’: ‘Not a Word That I Would Use’
Pennsylvania Democrat Sen. John Fetterman on Sunday told ABC’s Jon Karl that he was never on board with the “fascism” argument against president-elect Donald Trump, saying it’s not the way normal people talk.
Fetterman is one of the most prominent of the many Democrats who felt the national party did not get through to normal, everyday Americans with their messaging and rhetoric in 2024, and particularly that Vice President Kamala Harris and her campaign failed to reach working class voters on the issues that concerned them, across all demographics.
Fetterman, in his answer to Karl on Sunday’s This Week from ABC News, suggested the “fascism” argument that dominated left wing media and Harris campaign talking points, was a prime example of the that missing the mark mentality.
Karl asked Fetterman what was the “single biggest factor” in Harris’s defeat, and the Senator cited Trump’s natural political abilities before zeroing in specifically on the fascism talking point.
“I never believed that it was about fascism,” he said.
“Kamala Harris said that he was a fascist!” Karl objected.
“Yeah, well, it’s like, that’s her prerogative,” Fetterman replied. “But it’s not a word that I would use.”
The Democrat explained that normal people, including Democrats like him, know other normal people who voted for Trump but are not fascists. “And also fascism, that’s not a word that regular people, you know, use!” he added.
KARL: What was the single biggest factor behind Kamala Harris and Democrats losing in November?
FETTERMAN: You have a singular political talent. It’s undeniable. Trump. You know, he had the energy and an almost a sense of fearlessness to just say all of those kinds of things. And people — it’s, it’s undeniable that it has an entertaining aspect for for that, too. And just, if you’re not afraid to say all of those things or – and after you survived an assassination. You literally were shot in your head and had the presence of mind to respond, you know, fight, fight, fight. I mean, that’s a political talent that’s undeniable.
And also, I never believed that it was about fascism. And for me, that made it difficult for …
KARL: Kamala Harris said that he was a fascist.
FETTERMAN: Yeah well, it’s like, that’s her prerogative. I mean, but – but it’s not a word that I would use. Because you put a lot of Democrats, especially in my state, that I know, and I happen to love people that are going to vote for Trump. And they are not fascists.
And also fascism, that’s not a word that regular people, you know, use! You know? I think people are going to decide who is the candidate that’s going to protect and project, you know, my version of the American way of life. And that’s what happened.
watch the clip above via ABC News.
