Fetterman defends Iran strikes, blasts Democratic critics in party

As Democrats line up to condemn President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s joint attacks on Iran’s ruling regime, Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) is doing the opposite, strongly defending the operation and chiding members of his own party who call it reckless.

The Pennsylvania Democrat, who has increasingly promoted unapologetic pro-Israel positions, has openly questioned why critics from both the far right and far left are making hay over the strikes, arguing that the operation is necessary to counter Tehran’s aggression. His stance widens a visible rift within the party over how far to support Israel in an environment of rising regional tensions.

On Monday, Fetterman wrote that he was “not sure why it would be controversial for anyone to recognize and celebrate eliminating 49 leaders of one of the worst regimes in recorded history” after Trump announced the potentially four-week mission was ahead of schedule after discovering that several targeted senior Iranian officials were in the same area and could be eliminated in an instant.

After the first strike on Saturday, Fetterman reposted an image from the “Israel War Room” showing a Wanted-style poster of Ayatollah Ali Hossein Khamenei with the words “Eliminated.”

“Let’s see who feels sorry for this garbage,” Fetterman wrote.

The former Pennsylvania lieutenant governor later credited Trump, saying in a statement that he was “willing to do what is right and necessary to ensure true peace in the region.”

“God bless the USA, our great army and Israel.”

He also openly questioned members of his own group who agreed that Iran would not be allowed to produce nuclear weapons.

“Every member of the US Senate agrees that we cannot allow Iran to obtain nuclear weapons,” he wrote to X.

IRAN DID NOT FOLLOW AMERICA’S PLAYBOOK. RUSSIA AND CHINA ALREADY EXIST

Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei addressed the nation in a state television broadcast in Tehran on June 18, 2025. (Office of the Supreme Leader of Iran/Getty Images) (Office of the Supreme Leader of Iran/Getty Images)

“I’m puzzled why so many people are reluctant to support the single action that will achieve this. Empty sloganeering or commitment to global security?”

He said Saturday that he would “absolutely not” if Democrats forced a vote on war powers to roll back Trump’s authority.

Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., told the Richmond press on Monday that he plans to push for a vote on the War Powers Resolution focused on Iran, which he introduced in January.

In a separate press release, Kaine wondered aloud whether Trump was “so mentally incompetent that he cannot recognize that we have a diplomatic agreement with Iran.”

“The Senate must immediately return to session and vote on my War Powers Resolution to prevent the use of U.S. forces in hostilities against Iran. Every Senator needs to speak on the record about this dangerous, unnecessary, and foolish action,” Kaine said. he said.

Fetterman wasn’t the only Democrat criticizing the Iran attack. Former New York City Mayor Eric Adams, who is also a former NYPD officer, harshly criticized political circles that ignored the human rights abuses, mass killings and attacks on Americans committed by 86-year-old Khamenei and his predecessor, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini.

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Rep. Gregory Landsman (D-Ohio) also praised the operation against Iran and compared Khamenei’s killing to the elimination of Osama bin Laden, but stopped short of supporting Trump’s broader plans.

“There are a lot of people in Congress who don’t trust this president, and I’m one of those people. Ultimately, I trust the generals and our military.” Cincinnati Researcher.

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