Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., is calling on Democrats to stop labeling President Donald Trump as “Hitler” or an “autocrat” following the assassination of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk, as reported by Fox News.
Speaking with CNN’s Manu Raju on Wednesday, shortly after reports emerged that Kirk had been shot during a campus event at Utah Valley University, Fetterman said the rhetoric must change. At the time of the interview, Kirk’s death had not yet been confirmed.
“I think you just don’t ever, ever compare anyone to Hitler and those kinds of extreme things,” Fetterman said.
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“Now, look what happened to Charlie Kirk. I mean, you know, the man was shot. Now, we have to turn the temperature down. We can’t compare people to these kinds of figures in history. And this is not an autocrat. This is a product of a democratic election.”
Fetterman pointed out that only a day earlier, protesters had referred to Trump as “the Hitler of our time.” He said such comparisons are irresponsible and harmful in the current political climate.
When asked whether he thought Trump was “shattering any of the norms of democracy,” Fetterman responded, “I’m saying he’s definitely different, but that’s what America voted for. Again, I don’t agree with many of these things, but that does not make him an autocrat.”
Fetterman, who has often criticized elements of the Democratic Party, said he will not change his party affiliation but believes Democrats need to reassess their approach to voters.
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“Right now, I think it’s entirely appropriate to really be honest and just figure out why exactly have we effectively lost two out of the last three cycles and a lot of things,” he said.
“We’ve really kind of lost our connection with American voters in ways. And I think we can’t just be ‘well, Trump is always wrong’ or that ‘we’re going to set the country on fire’ or whatever. That’s just not true either.”
He added, “When I represent a state like Pennsylvania, that keeps you honest. You always can’t forget that a lot of Americans happen to disagree with you. That does not mean that they are fascists, or now they want to shred the Constitution.”
BREAKING: Sen. John Fetterman to Democrats:
— Stop calling Trump an autocrat
— Don’t force a govt shutdown
— Accept Trump’s help on crime
— Stand with Israel against Islamism
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Kirk’s death has sparked renewed focus on the consequences of heated political rhetoric. Investigators reported that bullet casings found at the scene bore inscriptions with anti-fascist messages.
The discussion comes amid heightened tension following the July 2024 assassination attempt on President Trump, which Republicans argue was fueled in part by repeated comparisons of him to Adolf Hitler.
Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas, defended her decision to call Trump a “wannabe Hitler” during an appearance on The Breakfast Club on Friday, days after Kirk’s killing.
“Me disagreeing with you, me calling you, you know, ‘wannabe Hitler,’ all those things are like, not necessarily saying, ‘Go out and hurt somebody,’” Crockett said.
“But when you’re literally telling people at rallies, ‘Yeah, beat them up’ and that kind of stuff, you are promoting a culture of violence.”
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