Senator John Fetterman, a Democrat from Pennsylvania, engaged in a heated exchange with a reporter from Drop Site News on Wednesday, a publication he characterized as anti-Israel and supportive of groups like Hamas and Iran. The encounter, captured on video by Drop Site’s Capitol Hill reporter Julian Andreone, showed Fetterman’s reaction upon learning the reporter’s affiliation.
Fetterman’s Sharp Retort
As Fetterman continued walking, he responded to the reporter’s introduction with a pointed remark: “Oh, you’re Drop Site.” He then drew a comparison, quipping, “It’s like a race between who’s the more pro-Hamas — Drop Site or Zeteo,” referencing the far-left outlet founded by former MSNBC host Mehdi Hasan. This jab highlighted his perception of certain media outlets’ stances on the conflict.
Known as one of the most vocal supporters of Israel within the Democratic Party, Fetterman directed a message specifically for the viewers of Drop Site News. “I want your viewers to see how much I love to watch Israel eliminating the Hamas leadership,” he stated to Andreone. “I know that upsets a lot of your viewers and a lot of your founders. But I think it’s a great thing.”
Fetterman asserted his unwavering position, declaring, “So there’s no news coming out of me. I’m going to always back Israel.” He then directly questioned the outlet’s origins and funding, asking, “The question is, where does your trash outlet come from and who’s funding it?” Andreone countered by stating that the outlet is funded by its readers, citing “46,000 individual donors.”
Targeting Co-Founder Jeremy Scahill
The Senator then turned his attention to Jeremy Scahill, a co-founder of Drop Site News. Scahill had recently gained attention for his critical remarks towards Representative Ro Khanna, a Democrat from California, regarding the justification of the October 7th Hamas attack on Israel. Fetterman seized on this, saying, “Your founders think it’s appropriate to attack and kill Israeli civilians. That’s really — that should be the news overall.”
Fetterman continued his critique, stating, “Now you’re sticking a microphone in my face… I think the question is why does Drop Site love Hamas and Iran and Hezbollah so much? I think that’s the news.” He further pressed the reporter, asking, “I mean, are you OK with taking your paycheck from these kind of people?”
Final Exchange and Broader Context
As Andreone attempted to inquire about Fetterman’s stance on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s presence in the United States, Fetterman simply replied, “I’m OK.” He added a final, emphatic statement before the elevator doors closed: “I love killing Hamas leadership.”
In a separate but related incident on the same day, Fetterman also had an exchange with a reporter from Zeteo, an outlet he similarly labeled as “pro-Hamas.” This broader confrontation underscores Fetterman’s consistent and strong pro-Israel stance, which has drawn criticism from anti-Israel factions. Notably, Mehdi Hasan, founder of Zeteo, had previously described Fetterman, who is a staunch defender of the Jewish state, as a “broken-brained, racist Democrat” in a social media post concerning Fetterman’s meeting with Netanyahu.
Fetterman’s public interactions reflect a deepening divide and sharp rhetoric surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, particularly within political and media spheres. His direct confrontations with reporters from outlets he deems critical of Israel highlight his commitment to his position and his willingness to challenge perceived biases in media coverage.
