Fetterman says the AOC’s views on Israel reflect a ‘massive rot’ within the Democratic Party

Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., appeared on “Jesse Watters Primetime” Thursday, where he called Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, DN.Y., regarding her comments at the Munich Security Conference over the weekend.

Watters asked Fetterman if he recognized Ocasio-Cortez’s words.

“I saw some of it,” Fetterman replied. “I think the most troubling thing about his views is that he’s just, you know, anti-Israel. I mean, and those views are also, you know, absurd — to sit in Germany and accuse Israel of genocide while you’re sitting in Germany — and how ignorant that is.”

Fetterman continued, noting that he didn’t realize “when he had his fever,” referring to Ocasio-Cortez’s mocking of several statements he made about Taiwan, as well as saying that Venezuela is under the equator.

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Ocasio-Cortez did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital.

Although he did not address the conference with his specific answer on whether the United States would defend Taiwan from a Chinese attack, Fetterman argued that his “specifically anti-Israel” comments at the conference represented a “tremendous rot” on the part of the Democratic Party.

Ocasio-Cortez was criticized for allegations that US aid to Israel caused the Jewish state to kill people during a town hall event at the conference.

Congressional criticism of Israel’s war to defeat Hamas in the Gaza Strip following the October 7, 2023 terrorist attack sparked outrage and a major backlash from military and Middle Eastern experts.

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While Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., who tried to steer his party to the center, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, you pulled it to the left. (Left: Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images; Right: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

Ocasio-Cortez said, “For me, this is not just about the presidential election. Personally, I think the United States has a responsibility to uphold its laws, especially the Leahy laws.”

“And I think – personally – that’s the idea entirely unconditional helpno matter what one does, it’s senseless,” he said. And I think we have thousands of women and children who died – that was completely avoidable.”

“And, therefore, I believe that the enforcement of our laws through the Leahy laws – which require help to put in place in any situation where you see a serious violation of human rights – is appropriate.”

The Leahy Laws prevent the Department of Defense and the State Department from funding “a foreign security unit if there is credible information that the unit has committed ‘serious human rights violations.'” Former Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., introduced the bill in 1997.

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Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, DN.Y., speaks during the Munich Security Conference in Munich, Germany, Feb. 13, 2026. (Liesa Johannssen/Reuters)

In an interview with Watters, Fetterman called for the Democratic Party to be a “big tent,” that includes diverse views and doesn’t shut out members of their own party over minor policy disagreements.

When asked if he is a “fan” of Gov. Gavin Newsom of California, Fetterman told Watters that he likes him personally, even though the two disagree on other issues.

“Yes, I mean I like him personally,” replied the Senator. “I don’t agree with him on some of his, you know, opinions on certain things. California is a lot different than Pennsylvania, but you know, technically we’re Democrats, and now that’s why, you know, the Democratic Party has to be a big tent thing and that’s why we disagree on some things.”

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Benjamin Weinthal of Fox News Digital contributed to this report.