Senator Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., has criticized Senator John Fetterman, D-Pa., calling his recent remarks a "sad state of affairs" and suggesting they are an attempt to gain media attention.

Sanders made the comments on Zeteo founder Mehdi Hasan's show, where he also noted Fetterman's low approval ratings among Democratic voters in Pennsylvania. A Quinnipiac University poll indicated that Fetterman holds a 48% overall approval rating with Pennsylvania voters, but 69% of Democratic voters disapprove of his performance, while 77% of Republican voters approve.

Fetterman has recently appeared on media outlets often associated with former President Donald Trump, criticizing fellow Democrats and those further left. This has led to speculation about his party affiliation, with 52% of respondents in the Quinnipiac poll preferring Fetterman leave the Democratic Party.

Fetterman addressed speculation about switching parties in an op-ed, stating he has no plans to leave and believes "working across the aisle is the only way forward." He added that he would only leave the Democratic Party if its platform officially stated it would "never support aid for Israel."

Both Hasan and Sanders reflected on Fetterman's past progressive stance, with Sanders having endorsed him during his campaign for lieutenant governor. Hasan noted that he and others "got him wrong" and that Fetterman is now "awful on multiple issues, especially Israel," while also attacking Sanders and suggesting he is out of touch.

The feud between the two senators escalated following controversy surrounding Graham Platner's suspended Senate campaign in Maine. Sanders, who initially endorsed Platner but later urged him to withdraw after accusations of sexual assault, was called a "carnival barker for an accused rapist" by Fetterman.

Fetterman also stated on Fox News that Sanders "will never represent any more than 640,000 people in Vermont" and has "never won an actual competitive election." He further asserted that Sanders "is not flipping seats" and instead "is helping install volatile and dangerous kinds of candidates and put Democratic seats at risk."

When asked if he was concerned about Fetterman potentially defecting from the Democratic Party, Sanders responded that it is "a possibility." He suggested Fetterman's attacks are a strategy: "Look, you wanna get on television, you go on Fox TV and you say something bad about Bernie Sanders, get you some coverage. That's the way it is."