Fetterman Op-Ed: Democrats Cannot ‘Simply Be the Opposite’ of Trump
UNITED STATES - APRIL 14: Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., is seen after the senate luncheons iTom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images
Jasmyn Jordan8 May 2026314
Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) defended his record and criticized parts of his own party in a Washington Post op-ed Thursday, arguing that Democrats have moved away from positions he said were once mainstream within the party while insisting that his own values have remained consistent.
In the piece, titled “I Haven’t Changed. Here’s What Has,” Fetterman wrote that “working across the aisle is the only way forward” and said he remains committed to serving “all Pennsylvanians” regardless of party affiliation. The Pennsylvania Democrat pointed to his bipartisan work on border security, government funding, Israel, infrastructure, and social programs while rejecting calls for ideological conformity inside the Democratic Party.
Fetterman wrote that he first entered politics after winning a mayoral race in Braddock, Pennsylvania, by a single vote, describing the town as “one of the poorest in the commonwealth” where “90 percent of the population has left.” He said his political focus has always been on delivering investment and results rather than engaging in partisan fights.
The senator argued that Democrats have increasingly become defined by opposition to President Trump, writing, “My party cannot simply be the opposite of whatever President Donald Trump says.” Fetterman added that “pointless pile-ons and attacks are unproductive” and said voters want lawmakers to “work together to find solutions.”
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2026/05/08/fetterman-op-ed-democrats-cannot-simply-opposite-trump/
