Border Security: A Critical Concern for Democrats

During a recent appearance on “Fox News Sunday,” Fetterman did not shy away from expressing his concerns. He pointed to border security as an area where the party has “kind of lost ourselves.”

“Well, one area where we kind of lost ourselves was the border,” he remarked. “And I’ve been on this network, you know, months, months ago saying, ‘Hey, you know, it can’t be controversial for our party to have pro-immigration, but we need a secure border.’”

Fetterman emphasized that the party’s insistence on downplaying the issue detracts from the reality facing constituents and potential voters. He explained, “When we ask or demand people to not believe what they see, and see those kind of numbers, that that’s not a problem. It’s like, well, then you lose about that 100%.”

He cited alarming statistics, noting as many as 300,000 encounters at the southern border each month, a figure he likened to the population of Pittsburgh entering the country in just four weeks. He stressed the importance of addressing this issue head-on.

“It’s like, what’s going to happen for those folks? If we want them [to have] the American Dream for those people, how can we possibly deliver that? Where do they go? And we can’t pretend that that’s not a significant issue. And we got to address that,” Fetterman stated.

The Party’s Stance on Foreign Conflicts

Fetterman also touched upon the shifting dynamics of the Democratic Party’s traditional anti-war platform, particularly in light of the ongoing conflicts involving Israel and Ukraine. He lamented that progressives grew critical of Israel’s actions in the aftermath of the October 7 attacks, a stance he believes undermines party unity.

In reference to the conflict between Israel and Hamas, Fetterman stated, “I never supported a cease-fire, and that was the right thing.” He emphasized his unwavering support for Israel’s military actions against Hamas and Hezbollah, claiming that these factions have been significantly weakened in recent months.

“Since they refused to have that cease-fire, they have eliminated and broken Hamas, and Hezbollah… Iran has just been exposed, as you know, they really can’t fight about anything. So that’s been a significant development here,” he said.

On Ukraine’s battle against Russian aggression, Fetterman characterized the conflict as a fight for democracy. He reaffirmed his commitment to supporting military aid for Ukraine. “For me, for me, it’s about standing on the side of democracy,” he stated.

Prospects of the Incoming Administration

As Fetterman assessed the incoming administration under President-elect Trump, he expressed approval of its pro-Israel stance. He noted key figures in Trump’s foreign policy team, including Senator Marco Rubio and Representative Elise Stefanik, who have been identified as particularly pro-Israel.

“In terms of the incoming administration, I actually like what I see in terms of being very, very strong pro-Israel,” Fetterman affirmed, citing Israel’s efforts to neutralize threats from Hamas and Hezbollah as pivotal to long-term peace.

A Call for Open Dialogue

During his discussion, Fetterman also reflected on his contentious Senate race against Dr. Mehmet Oz, admitting that it “got kinda ugly.” However, he expressed no lingering bitterness and extended an olive branch for future dialogue.

“I’m not sure why that’s controversial,” Fetterman said. “I’m not going to pre-hate. I’m not going to pre-hate a lot of these things, and I’m not going to pre-hate this.” He added that he is open to having conversations with anyone, regardless of past rivalries.