John Fetterman Gives Blunt Take On L.A.: 'You Can't Defend When People Start Setting Things On Fire'

Forbes Breaking News

Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) discusses the anti-ICE demonstrations in Los Angeles, California.

Transcript

00:00But your post that you put on X, your post on X last night about the Democratic response here.

00:06What is it about the Democratic response to these protests that's concerning you?

00:11What I'm saying, it's like you can't defend when people start setting things on fire

00:15or they start damaging buildings or going after members of law enforcement.

00:21That's not free speech. That is not, that is not peaceful protests.

00:28And I'm very supportive of immigration as well, too.

00:31We have to find a way forward that two must be true at the same time.

00:35And that's what it's about.

00:36Are Democrats not reacting appropriately, in your view?

00:42No, I'm not judging any of other of my colleagues in my party.

00:45I'm just saying, you know, two things have to be true, this.

00:48Like, you can't be quiet on those things.

00:51You have to just call it really what it is.

00:53And it's like, look at the people that see these images and doing those things.

00:58Stop setting it on fire. Stop setting it on fire.

01:03Like, that's not protesting. That's destructive.

01:05That's just unacceptable.

01:08But basically, you want more people in your party to be calling that out.

01:11No, what I'm saying, it's like we really should learn,

01:14we should have learned the lesson back in 2020.

01:16Absolutely, there was righteous outrage over what happened to George Floyd.

01:20But that never means that you can support or be quiet if there's destruction or rioting

01:26and destroying and looting and those kinds of things.

01:29It's like, that's the thing.

01:31So that's where we're at.

01:32I don't ever support attacking immigrant communities.

01:38So that's the point.

01:40Do you think it was appropriate for the President to throw in the National Guard,

01:45to send the National Guard, or do you support him sending in the National Guard

01:48and the Marines into L.A.?

01:50Well, I remember in 2020 when I was Lieutenant Governor, you know,

01:54they sent the National Guard to Philadelphia in the middle of the unrest.

02:00So for me, it's like I don't agree with those in every situation.

02:05But what I'm trying to say is that as long as people aren't setting stuff on fire or destruction,

02:12you know, I don't think you're going to have those situations that's going to happen.

02:16But in this situation, should the President have sent in the National Guard and the Marines?

02:20What I'm saying right now is that as long as everything is quiet and legal

02:27and you're not setting things on fire, it's unlikely that that's going to turn into anything.

02:31And now this is not part of a dictatorship or that's not talking about all these.

02:36I mean, like, there's a lot of hyperbole coming on our side on this as well, too.

02:40I think both sides are playing it into a lot of professional wrestling part of it as well, too.

02:44One last question.

02:45I'll let you go.

02:46There's a report that you had dinner with Steve Bannon last night.

02:50Is that right?

02:51And what happened there?

02:52Was there proof?

02:54I just saw that.

02:56Did that happen?

02:57Yeah, you know, it's like, yeah, well, so, yeah, I'm not really sure why that's new to who I'm having dinner with.

03:02What was that like?

03:03Well, I'd love to have a beer with you.

03:04You never invited me.

03:06Can we do that?

03:08All right.

03:09Steve, anything you want to tell us about Steve Bannon?

03:11Yeah, well, so it's like, I'd love to have a beer with you.

03:13You know, you're a fun guy.

03:15So, like, you know, let's weekend.

03:16I've got to get here.

03:17Okay.

03:18All right.

03:19Thanks.

03:19Cheers.

03:19Bye.

03:20Bye.

03:21Bye.

03:22Bye.

03:23Bye.

03:24Bye.

Category

Transcript

Recommended