Fetterman shuts down heckler with crack about his health: ‘Joke’s on you’

Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) heckled a protester demanding he exit the stage at a Democratic rally Sunday in McKeesport, Pennsylvania, due to his stance on the Israel-Hamas war.

While showing his support for Sara Innamorato, a Democrat running to be Allegheny County executive, at an event center in the western Pennsylvania city, a man demanded Fetterman “get off the stage.” More than 100 people attended the “Get Out The Vote Rally in the Valley” event.

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“Four thousand-plus dead children in Palestine. Nine thousand-plus dead civilians. Get off the stage,” the man shouted while the senator was speaking. “You have blood on your hands. Get off the stage.”

Fetterman initially did not engage, but then he responded, “The joke’s on you. I had a stroke. I can’t fully understand what you are saying,” referring to the stroke he suffered during his campaign last year.

Social media posts show the man being escorted out by security when a woman joined in on the heckling, urging Fetterman to back a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.

“End aid to Israel. Free Palestine. Ceasefire now,” the woman said.

Last month, more than a dozen former staffers of Fetterman issued an open letter to the senator telling him to change his stance and stop unconditional arms support to Israel, signing the letter as “Fetterman Alumni for Peace.”

Fetterman has been vocal about his support for Israel and defended its war in Gaza despite a resolution from progressive House members demanding support for a ceasefire. A month after Hamas terrorists staged a surprise attack on Israel, Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) became the first senator to call for a ceasefire on Thursday.

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On Oct. 18, Fetterman said on X, formerly known as Twitter, “Now is not the time to talk about a ceasefire. We must support Israel in efforts to eliminate the Hamas terrorists who slaughtered innocent men, women, and children. Hamas does not want peace, they want to destroy Israel. We can talk about a ceasefire after Hamas is neutralized.”

Hamas killed more than 1,400 Israelis and seized more than 200 hostages, according to Israeli officials. The Hamas-run Palestinian Health Ministry said that 10,022 people have been killed in Gaza by Israeli forces.