Van Jones says being a moderate Democrat like Fetterman isn’t illegal

CNN’s Van Jones, a former adviser to Barack Obama, defended Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., on Monday and said it shouldn’t be illegal to be a moderate in the Democratic Party.

“Look, I think he’s a moderate Democrat, and he shouldn’t be illegal in this party,” Jones said during a discussion on CNN’s “The Source with Kaitlin Collins.”

“Jeez, to be a Democrat you have to accept 100% of 100% of the Berkeley, California agenda?” he continued. “It doesn’t make any sense. We’ve always had moderate Democrats, and progressive Democrats have always had some people who don’t fit the mold.”

Politico reported Some Republicans on Monday were trying to persuade Fetterman to change his party affiliation. The Democratic senator told the outlet in an interview: “I am a Democrat and will remain so.”

FETTERMAN SAID THAT AS THE LAST DAY OF THE FIGHT FORCE APPROACHES, DEMOCRATS FORGET THAT IRAN IS THE ‘REAL ENEMY’

Fetterman backed away from fellow Democratic caucus members after parting ways with them on some issues, such as support for Israel and some far-left causes.

Jones said the party’s connection to Fetterman shows how “crazy” things have gotten.

“This shows you how crazy things have gotten, that anyone who wants to defend Israel and doesn’t want an open border now has to be a Republican in some way,” he said. “This is completely insane. I don’t think John Fetterman would be a better fit for the Republican Party than I am.”

FETTERMAN SAYS THAT ‘MORAL CLARITY’ HAS ENABLED HIM TO EXPAND RELATIONS WITH THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY

Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., speaks with a reporter as he arrives at the U.S. Capitol for the vote on Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025. (Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)

Politico reported that Fetterman did not specifically reject the call outright and said he “embraced the suggestion,” quoting a GOP official who said the senator responded, “I would be a solid Republican.”

Democratic National Committee vice chairman Malcolm Kenyatta criticized Fetterman in April, calling the senator a “mess.”

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“Now almost every day my US Senator comes to this site to attack his constituents and the many people who worked hard to elect him. They claim they have ‘destabilization syndrome’ for opposing this administration. @JohnFetterman you are an absolute disgrace,” Malcolm Kenyatta claimed in a post on X.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries also called He told Fetterman about his reaction to the war in Iran, saying on CNN in April that he “knew better.”

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“He’s not going to be a Republican, and he should be able to be a Democrat and not be subjected to a bunch of crap being thrown at him,” Jones concluded.