Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., is distancing himself from fellow Democrats who are planning to protest or skip President Donald Trump’s upcoming State of the Union address, urging lawmakers instead to show up with “dignity” and respect for the office.
Fetterman made the comments Thursday during an appearance on Fox News’ “Jesse Watters Primetime,” where he made clear he has no intention of joining Democrats who are organizing alternative events or boycotting the president’s February 24 speech.
Several Democratic lawmakers are slated to attend a counter-programming event on the National Mall the same evening, dubbed the “People’s State of the Union.” Organizers of the rally have said that Sens. Ed Markey of Massachusetts, Jeff Merkley of Oregon, Chris Murphy of Connecticut, Tina Smith of Minnesota, and Chris Van Hollen of Maryland are among those expected to participate.
Fetterman, however, signaled that such moves may not have the desired impact.
While acknowledging that Democrats are free to protest, the Pennsylvania senator said he hopes they avoid the kinds of disruptions that have marred past addresses.
“I just hope they don’t do the kinds of things some did last year,” Fetterman said. “I mean, there’s no dignity if you have paddles, if you are yelling… I mean, you can agree or disagree on things, but if you are going to show up, with dignity because you really need to respect the office.”
His remarks come as tensions remain high between congressional Democrats and President Trump, particularly as the president prepares to outline his agenda before a joint session of Congress.
Fetterman also cast doubt on the effectiveness of staging an alternative event at the same time as the president’s nationally televised speech.
“And now they are doing, like, a counter-programming, and that’s never going to go well,” he said. “Regardless who the president is, you know, the counter never really lands, and it really kind of just doesn’t compare.”
The senator’s comments suggest a more measured approach than some of his Democratic colleagues, emphasizing decorum over confrontation.
During the same Fox News interview, Fetterman also weighed in on an entirely different topic that has recently captured national attention: extraterrestrials.
Following former President Barack Obama’s recent statement that he believes aliens are “real,” Fetterman urged President Trump to consider declassifying files related to the subject.
“That’d be incredible,” Fetterman said. “I grew up watching The X-Files. Now if he’s going to release all of the X files, I think that could be a bipartisan thing to finally realize what’s happening.”
While the issue of extraterrestrials may seem far removed from the political battles surrounding the State of the Union, Fetterman framed potential transparency as an opportunity for bipartisan cooperation.
As Democrats debate how best to respond to President Trump’s address, Fetterman’s comments highlight a divide within the party over strategy and tone. For his part, the Pennsylvania senator appears to be calling for civility inside the chamber — even amid sharp political disagreements.
