Senate Fetterman rips Newsom for comparing Israel’s government to apartheid by Max Rego - 03/05/26 11:22 AM ET by Max Rego - 03/05/26 11:22 AM ET Share ✕ LinkedIn LinkedIn Email Email NOW PLAYING Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) criticized California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) for comparing Israel to an “apartheid state.” “That’s a talking point of the fringe of my party, and that’s profoundly disappointing. I mean, I was shocked,” Fetterman told NewsNation’s Chris Cuomo on “Cuomo” Wednesday evening. “Overall, he might be more liberal, but I never thought he would actually go that way and would describe our strong special ally [that way].” During a Tuesday interview with the hosts of “Pod Save America” to promote his new memoir “Young Man in a Hurry: A Memoir of Discovery,” Newsom expressed reservations with the status quo regarding U.S. support for Israel.  “The issue of Bibi is interesting because he’s got his own domestic issues,” Newsom told co-host Tommy Vietor, referring to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. “He’s trying to stay out of jail. He’s got an election coming up [in October]. He’s potentially on the ropes. “He’s got folks, the hard line, that want to annex the West Bank. [Journalist Thomas] Friedman and others are talking about it appropriately as sort of an apartheid state.” Co-host Jon Favreau then asked the likely 2028 presidential contender whether the U.S. should rethink its military support for Israel.  “It breaks my heart, because the current leadership in Israel is walking us down that path, where I don’t think you have a choice but that consideration,” Newsom replied.  “I mean, to say this is in America’s interest, at a time when affordability’s at crisis levels, where you had an administration that literally got elected saying this is exactly the opposite of what they would ever consider doing. … You just got to reconsider the whole thing, you just have to.” On Wednesday, Fetterman was the lone Senate Democrat to vote with Republicans to defeat a war powers resolution that proposed halting further U.S. action against Iran without congressional approval.  Sen. Rand Paul (Ky.), a libertarian, was the only GOP senator to vote for the resolution.  On Wednesday night, the Pennsylvania Democrat defended his vote to Cuomo. “I don’t understand why it’s outrageous to finally take out one of the world’s premier terrorism [underwriters] in the region, perhaps even in the world,” Fetterman remarked. Add as preferred source on Google Tags Benjamin Netanyahu Chris Cuomo Gavin Newsom John Fetterman Jon Favreau Rand Paul Tommy Vietor Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Share ✕ LinkedIn LinkedIn Email Email More Senate News See All Senate Kelly: ‘People off the street’ could do better job on Iran than Trump aides by Sarah Davis 1 hour ago Senate  /  1 hour ago