Chris Van Hollen suggested John Fetterman might be “looking for an off-ramp” from the Democratic Party after the Pennsylvania senator criticized his bid for Senate leadership.
On Fox News Sundaythe Maryland Democrat responded after Fetterman said it would be “troubling” if his caucus elected Van Hollen as 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 Donald Trump’s administration should receive a “blank check” when constitutional or legal principles are at stake.
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Kilmar Abrego Garcia is a Salvadoran national who was deported from the United States to El Salvador despite a court order barring his deportation to that country. His case became a major legal battle against President Trump’s immigration policies, eventually reaching the Supreme Court, which upheld a lower court order requiring the government to facilitate his return to the United States.
News week contacted representatives for Van Hollen and Fetterman by email for comment Sunday.
Why it matters
Fetterman is increasingly breaking with fellow Democrats on Israel and other issues, but has previously rejected suggestions that he was considering becoming a Republican.
Van Hollen’s response turns their policy disagreement into a broader political issue by openly suggesting that his Pennsylvania colleague might consider leaving the party.
What you need to know
Van Hollen responds to Fetterman
Appearing on Fox News Sunday On November 15, Van Hollen began by highlighting one area he believed the two senators could agree on.
“First of all, I hope that Senator Fetterman stays true to his populist economic message, and that is something I would support,” Van Hollen said.
He then turned his attention to Fetterman’s political future.
“It is common knowledge that Senator Fetterman is worried about a Democratic primary in his home state of Pennsylvania, so he may be looking for an off-ramp,” Van Hollen added.
His comments followed an interview a day earlier, in which Kayleigh McEnany asked Fetterman whether Van Hollen’s election as Senate majority leader could become a red line that pushes him to leave the party.
“Yes, absolutely, it would be troubling if my caucus elected someone like Van Hollen, it really makes his name very…hostile to Israel,” Fetterman said.
Israel at the center of the dispute
Van Hollen rejected Fetterman’s description of his approach to Israel, instead framing his position around conditions tied to support from American taxpayers.
“My position is that American taxpayers should not give a blank check to the Israeli government or any other government, regardless of their conduct,” he said.
Van Hollen also specifically highlighted violence involving Israeli settlers in the West Bank, saying American money should not support such conduct.
His record places him among the Senate’s most prominent Democratic critics of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government. In November 2024, he supported resolutions to block certain offensive arms sales while continuing to support Israel’s right to defend itself and U.S. transfers of defensive systems, including Iron Dome.
Abrego Garcia becomes another contentious area
Van Hollen also responded to Fetterman’s criticism of his advocacy for the constitutional rights of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, whose removal to El Salvador has become a significant dispute over the Trump administration’s immigration policy.
He argued that the case had implications beyond a single individual.
“The American people? They’re actually with me because they understand it’s not just about one man. It’s about everyone’s constitutional rights,” Van Hollen said. “If you take it away, you’ve threatened them for everyone.”
The struggle for democratic leadership looms
The confrontation comes as Van Hollen challenges Chuck Schumer for the role of party leader in the Senate following Democrats’ midterm victories.
Van Hollen announced his challenge Thursday, arguing that voters had demanded change in Washington.
“In this election, Americans called on us to dismantle an economy rigged against workers and fueled by political corruption,” he wrote on X. “To do that, we need new leadership. It’s not about one person, it’s about answering that call.”
Van Hollen has publicly portrayed himself as an outsider, saying his campaign aims to address what he calls a “trust deficit” between Americans and political leaders. Schumer, meanwhile, reportedly said he was confident he had enough support to keep his job.
Fetterman’s future draws scrutiny
Despite his clashes with Democrats, Fetterman has previously pushed back on the idea that he plans to switch parties.
In May Washington Post In his opinion piece, he called himself a “terrible Republican who always votes overwhelmingly with Democrats.”
Speculation has nevertheless reached the prediction markets. Kalshi traders gave Fetterman a 23 percent implied chance of becoming the 2028 Republican nominee for Pennsylvania Senate as of 1 p.m. ET on Nov. 14, compared to Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick’s 32 percent chance. A separate market puts his implied chances of winning the Democratic nomination at 3 percent.
Prediction market odds reflect the prices traders are willing to pay for a particular outcome and should be viewed as a measure of speculative market sentiment, rather than a poll or proof that a candidate has filed for office.
For now, Van Hollen’s suggestion that his colleague might seek an “off-ramp” also remains speculation rather than proof that Fetterman has decided to leave the Democratic Party.
News weekReporters and editors used Martyn, our AI assistant, to produce this story. Learn more about Martyn here.
Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Tobias Meyjes and Cristina Diciu.
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