Van Hollen Says Fetterman ‘Maybe Looking for Exit Ramp’ After Criticism

Detailed summary

John Fetterman previously signaled he could reach a breaking point if his caucus elected Van Hollen as its Senate majority leader.

Chris Van Hollen has suggested John Fetterman may be "looking for an exit ramp" from the Democratic Party after the Pennsylvania senator criticized his bid for Senate leadership.

On Fox News Sunday, the Maryland Democrat responded after Fetterman said it would be "troubling" if his caucus elected Van Hollen as its leader because of what he described as the senator's hostility toward Israel.

Van Hollen defended his positions on Israel and Kilmar Abrego Garcia, arguing that neither foreign governments nor the Donald Trump administration should receive a "blank check" when constitutional or legal principles are at stake.

Kilmar Abrego Garcia is a Salvadoran national who was deported from the United States to El Salvador despite a court order that barred his removal there. His case became a major legal battle over President Trump's immigration policies, eventually reaching the Supreme Court, which backed a lower court order requiring the government to facilitate his return to the United States.

Fetterman has increasingly broken with fellow Democrats on Israel and other issues, but has previously rejected suggestions that he plans to become a Republican.

Van Hollen's response turns their policy disagreement into a broader political question by openly suggesting his Pennsylvania colleague could be considering a way out of the party.

Appearing on Fox News Sunday on November 15, Van Hollen began by highlighting an area where he said the two senators could agree.

"First of all, I hope Senator Fetterman will stay true to his economic populist message, and that's something that I would support," Van Hollen said.

"It's widely known that Senator Fetterman is worried about a Democratic primary in his state of Pennsylvania. And so maybe looking for an exit ramp," Van Hollen added.

Opening of the article, excerpted from Newsweek. To read the rest, open the article on the publisher's site.