Fetterman Slams Dems As Mao-Praising Communists Gain Power In Party
Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman issued a sharp rebuke to his own party Tuesday, cautioning that Democrats are drifting toward radical extremes by elevating socialist and communist-aligned figures whose views clash with core American and Democratic principles.
Speaking to Fox News on the sidelines of the Israel on Campus Coalition’s National Leadership Summit in Washington, D.C., the senator zeroed in on the rising influence of far-left streamer Hasan Piker.
Piker, who commands millions of followers on Twitch, has openly praised Chinese communist dictator Mao Zedong and defended Cuba’s authoritarian regime while blaming the United States for the island’s hardships.
He has also backed New York City’s socialist Mayor Zohran Mamdani and campaigned alongside progressive Michigan Senate hopeful Abdul El-Sayed.
“I would never try to elevate … a communist just because [Piker] has followers on some, on Twitch, whatever that is,” Fetterman said.
“But overall, if you identify with a communist who praises Mao and Cuba and for these places, that should be foreign to any Democrat. Without a doubt, that’s having an impact,” Fetterman added.
Fetterman described the party’s overall trajectory as “troubling,” pointing to Tuesday’s primaries as a critical test of whether Democrats will keep elevating candidates from the progressive fringe.
In Missouri, moderate Rep. Wesley Bell defeated a comeback bid by DSA-backed former Rep. Cori Bush.
In Michigan’s closely watched Democratic Senate primary, El-Sayed—who has courted socialist support—remained locked in a tight race with more centrist Rep. Haley Stevens as results continued to come in early Wednesday.
The senator argued that anti-Israel positions have become an “ultimate litmus” test within the party’s left wing.
He singled out California Gov. Gavin Newsom for describing Israel as an “apartheid state,” insisting Newsom “knows better, that that’s not true.”
“I see the midterms right now that the more radical, the more anti-Israel,” Fetterman said.
Fetterman stressed that it should be “pretty obvious” Democrats must avoid pandering to the fringe.
“Those are core values. … Like I said, you just can’t pander to those kinds of people,” Fetterman said.
Fetterman noted that even pro-Israel Democrats now face pressure to qualify their support.
“The left is using the term of Zionist as like a slur or use Zio or Zio, or describing that as someone that in the negative terms,” he explained.
“In other words, being proud, pro-Israel, that’s become a slur, and people have to defend that,” Fetterman said.
The event itself underscored the stakes.
More than 800 pro-Israel students gathered for training, networking, and discussions on combating antisemitism and strengthening the U.S.-Israel alliance on college campuses.
Fetterman used the platform to reinforce his consistent support for the Jewish state amid what he sees as a broader party shift.
President Donald Trump has issued parallel warnings.
In June, after socialists scored primary wins in New York, Trump declared that Democrats had moved past socialism into something darker: “These are not social Democrats. These are hardcore, godless communists. They’re godless communists. All communists are godless. They don’t believe in God. This is the most serious threat to our country since its existence. In my opinion, 250 years ago. This is a major threat to our country.”
Asked late Tuesday what more socialist primary victories would mean, Trump called the Democratic Party “a mess.”
“I think they should form another party, the communist of America party. I think they should have a new party, the communists of America, and it will do well, it’ll get about 10% of the vote,” he said.
Fetterman further highlighted his independent streak on foreign policy, noting he was the only Senate Democrat to support the Trump administration’s strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities.
He has also stood alone among Democrats in opposing certain War Powers resolutions on the issue.
BREAKING: Dolly Parton’s Cause Of Death Revealed: ‘Brief Battle’
Dolly Parton’s death came after a brief battle with cancer, her representatives revealed Tuesday.
The country music legend died Aug. 25 at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center in Nashville. She was 80.
Parton had been admitted to the cancer center Friday, four days before her death. Her representatives confirmed the cancer diagnosis in a statement to PEOPLE but did not disclose what type she had.
“Our beloved Dolly Parton spent her life and career bringing joy, laughter, hope and integrity into everything she touched. Her unmatched generosity reached the lives of countless people whom she would never meet, yet she was always there to offer a helping hand,” the statement read.
“Whether it be the hundreds of millions of books donated through her invaluable Imagination Library or funding research that helped create a lifesaving vaccine used around the world, Dolly’s unconditional love for all people was the guiding force for her lasting impact. After bravely facing a brief battle with cancer, Dolly departed her Earthly life today at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center surrounded by loved ones,” the statement concluded.
The “Jolene” singer had also been dealing with kidney and autoimmune issues before her death, PEOPLE previously reported.
Just days earlier, Dolly Parton opened up about her declining health and acknowledged that she had put off addressing some medical issues while caring for her husband, Carl.
“As I’ve shared in video messages throughout the past year, I am dealing with some health issues that I just didn’t pay attention to when I was watching over [my husband] Carl. You know, this isn’t the first time I’ve had to manage something like this. Back in the early ’80s, I was down for several months with female issues, and I was struggling with my weight at the time too, so it’s not like I haven’t been through hard times with my health,” Parton told PEOPLE.
Her nephew, Bryan Seaver, announced her death in an Instagram video Tuesday on behalf of the Parton and Owens family.
“My name is Bryan Seaver, son of Cassie Parton, and I’m representing the Parton and Owens family today announcing the passing of my aunt, Dolly Rebecca Parton Dean, Sister, Sis and Granny to one generation and Gigi to the next,” he says in the video.
Seaver, who served as Parton’s head of security for more than two decades, said she had asked him years earlier to deliver the announcement.
“This video announcement is something Dolly asked of me years ago, before I fully absorbed it as a future reality,” he continued. “As her head of security for more than two decades, a role my father Larry held before me, I have imagined the heaviness of this moment but haven’t truly felt it until now.”
Seaver said the moment brought immense pride and heartbreak, but he took comfort in his faith that Parton had been reunited with Carl and other loved ones.
Seaver added: “It is an honor, an honor that is mixed with absolute pride and great sadness. But sadness lies with us, not with Dolly. Dolly has lived in the light and is in the arms of Jesus, surely met by Carl, her parents and countless othe
