WASHINGTON — Sen. John Fetterman’s unlikely Bibi bromance is still going strong.
The Pennsylvania Democrat broke with much of his party yet again Wednesday, lavishing praise on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a one-on-one meeting.
“You’ve been a stellar patriot, talking about what is good for America, what is good for our alliance, of which you’ve been a champion,” Netanyahu told Fetterman, according to a transcript of the conversation released by the PM’s office.
“You’ve been telling it like it is, with no fear, and just an indefatigable and courageous commitment to the truth,” the Israeli leader added.
Fetterman, who has repeatedly defied progressives and supported Israel since Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, terror attack on the Jewish state, returned the admiration.
“Mr. Prime Minister, it was a supreme honor of my time here in the Senate,” Fetterman said. “I’m proud to stand with and for the vision and what Israel is, the miracle that Israel is.”
The senator also blasted fellow Democrats over what he called the party’s increasingly hostile stance toward the US ally.
“It’s been disappointing, as a Democratic politician, how our party continues to behave,” said Fetterman, taking a swipe at New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani over his recent address calling for Netanyahu’s arrest as a “war criminal.”
“Now I think, as far as I know, I was the only Democrat that was proud to push that trash back,” the senator added. “I’m proud to stand with Israel through everything.”
The meeting underscored Fetterman’s growing political isolation inside a Democratic Party where criticism of Netanyahu’s government has become increasingly popular since the war in Gaza.
Netanyahu praised the senator’s willingness to stand apart from his colleagues, telling him that “history will record your contribution to truth and justice.”
Fetterman, for his part, said he has no intention of changing course.
“I’m proud to remain the conscience of the Democratic Party in Congress,” he said.
“It’s always been a just war for me,” Fetterman continued. “I don’t understand how we’ve arrived with where we are politically, at least in my party, but I have no regrets.”
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