Sen. John Fetterman is sharply criticizing former President Donald Trump over what he views as escalating, dangerous rhetoric aimed at lawmakers, warning that political disagreements must never cross the line into threats against elected officials.
In a statement and follow-up comments to reporters, the Pennsylvania Democrat said Trump’s recent remarks about members of Congress are “completely unacceptable in a democracy” and urged him to stop targeting individual lawmakers by name.
“You can call us wrong. You can say we’re bad at our jobs. You can campaign to replace us,” Fetterman said. “But do not threaten members of Congress — ever. That’s not how this country is supposed to work.”
A Warning About Rhetoric and Safety
Fetterman pointed to a broader pattern of increasingly heated political language, arguing that threats — even implied ones — land differently in a country that has already seen real violence against public officials.
He referenced incidents such as the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol and the assault on former Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s husband, Paul Pelosi, as moments that should have been “permanent wake-up calls” about the consequences of incendiary rhetoric.
“Everyone in public life has had threats,” he said. “Staffers get them, members get them, their families get them. When a former president uses his platform to single out and menace people in Congress, it pours gasoline on a fire that’s already burning.”
Defending Congressional Independence
Fetterman framed his criticism not just as a personal objection but as a defense of the institution of Congress itself.
“Presidents are not kings,” he said. “They don’t get to intimidate the legislative branch into silence or obedience. Our system is built on checks and balances, not on fear.”
He stressed that lawmakers must be free to criticize presidents — past or present — without worrying that doing so will lead to threats, harassment, or calls for punishment from a national audience.
“If you disagree with what we say, run against us, organize, vote us out. That’s democracy,” Fetterman added. “What’s not democracy is using your political power and millions of followers to sic people on your opponents.”
Calling for a Lower Political Temperature
While Fetterman is known for his blunt and often combative style online, he said there is a line he will not cross: encouraging threats or violence.
“I’m not delicate. I give it right back on social media,” he acknowledged. “But I will never tell anyone to threaten another elected official, and I will never suggest that someone deserves harm because of their politics. That’s where you stop being a tough guy and start being a danger.”
He called on leaders in both parties to reject language that hints at physical retribution, political persecution, or punishment for criticism.
“We can fight over policy and argue about elections all day,” he said. “But if we can’t agree that threatening elected officials is off-limits, then we have a much bigger problem than partisan politics.”
A Message to Trump — and to Voters
Fetterman’s central message was aimed squarely at Trump, but he also directed a plea to the former president’s supporters and to voters generally.
“To anyone who hears this kind of rhetoric and thinks it’s just entertainment: it isn’t for the people on the receiving end,” he said. “Behind every name in a post or a speech is a real person, with a family, staff, and security who now have to worry a little more.”
He urged voters to judge political leaders not only on their policies but also on whether they respect democratic norms and the physical safety of those who disagree with them.
“You don’t have to like me,” Fetterman said. “You don’t have to vote for me. But you should expect every leader — including Donald Trump — to follow one basic rule: do not threaten members of Congress. Ever.”
