Key facts
- Senator John Fetterman mistakenly called himself a "lifelong Republican" at the Texas Tribune Festival.
- Fetterman corrected himself, stating he is a "lifelong Democrat."
- The incident occurred during a conversation with CBS News political correspondent Major Garrett.
- Fetterman has recently drawn scrutiny for opposing Democratic party efforts on aid to Israel and the war with Iran.
- Fetterman was elected to the US Senate in 2022.
US Senator John Fetterman, a Democrat from Pennsylvania, inadvertently referred to himself as a "lifelong Republican" during a public appearance at the Texas Tribune Festival on Saturday. The remark came during a discussion with CBS News political correspondent Major Garrett when a listener asked Fetterman why he had not become an independent. Fetterman responded, "Because I’m a lifelong Republican," prompting Garrett to immediately correct him by saying, "Democrat." The senator then acknowledged the gaffe, stating, "I’m a lifelong Democrat, though, and that’s … the point."
The incident quickly gained traction on social media, with some commentators characterizing it as a Freudian slip. Fetterman's alignment with the Democratic party has been a subject of discussion following his opposition to his party's stances on ending the US war with Iran and cutting military aid to Israel. He also appeared in a video praising Republican Senator Dave McCormick at a convention.