John Fetterman

Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman faced a grilling from Jon Stewart over his “red line” against supporting fellow Democrats.

“You could agree with them 90% but Israel is the red line?” Stewart asked Fetterman, who has been deeply critical of Democrats who oppose Israel’s military actions in Gaza and American aid to the Jewish state.

“Absolutely. Israel for me. I can never turn my back to Israel after where it’s at,” Fetterman responded during his appearance on Stewart’s podcast, “The Weekly Show.”

Stewart suggested that Fetterman’s Israel dealbreaker was irrational.

“I mean no disrespect … but that is not our country," Stewart said. “You’re saying that these candidates may have great ideas for our economy. They may want to do the exact same thing you want to do in terms of getting money out of politics. They may want to increase the social safety net. They may want to change the balance of power from capital back to labor, but if they don’t agree with you on Israel you don’t want them in your party?”

After Fetterman said he did not know which Democrats Stewart was referencing, Stewart said he assumed that Fetterman agrees with Democratic Michigan Senate candidate Abdul Al-Sayed’s, Sen. Bernie Sanders’ and New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s talking points on working-class Americas.

Fetterman said he agreed with comedian and talk-show host Bill Maher’s opinion that the Democratic Socialists of America are “colonizing” the Democratic Party.

“What I’m saying is if you are a DSA member … run under your own banner," Fetterman said.

Stewart argued that the DSA is a faction of the Democratic Party.

“It’s just an organization. We have a two-party system. It’s like the [House] Freedom Caucus in the Republican Party … and Republicans might not agree with them on all kinds of things,“ Stewart said.

“The Weekly Show” host pointed out that New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who belongs to the DSA, disagrees with parts of the DSA platform.

“But you don’t disavow the entire thing. You’re literally saying … we can all have discussions except when it comes to Israel, which is not America. It seems like a weird line to draw," Stewart told Fetterman.

The Pennsylvania Democrat, who is rumored to be considering a switch to the Republican Party, pushed back.

“I don’t think that’s weird. I think what history demonstrates is that when people or a government or people turn their back to the Jewish community things end really badly, and it’s dangerous,” Fetterman said.

Stewart accused Fetterman of conflating religion with a government.

“Jewish community and Israel are not the same thing, brotherman. That is not the same thing,” he said. “You think that the left is pro-Iran, not the country, but the regime?”

“If anyone in the Democratic Party is fine with Iran building a nuclear bomb, I disagree with that person,” Fetterman said.

“Again, I think you’re caricaturing the issue,” Stewart said. “Is there anything you would criticize Israel about?”