Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., on Wednesday urged members of his own party to stop calling President Donald Trump "Hitler" or an "autocrat," saying Democrats need to "turn the temperature down" in the wake of the shooting of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk.
Fetterman made the remarks in an interview with CNN's Manu Raju shortly after news emerged that Kirk had been shot during a campus event at Utah Valley University, a conversation that took place before Kirk's death was confirmed. "I think you just don’t ever, ever compare anyone to Hitler and those kinds of extreme things," Fetterman said, adding that such comparisons are inappropriate even for political opponents.
Fetterman said Trump is "definitely different" from past presidents but argued that describing him as an autocrat is incorrect. "This is not an autocrat. This is a product of a democratic election," he said. The senator, who has frequently criticized elements of the Democratic Party, said he would not change his party affiliation but acknowledged his party has "lost the argument" with many voters.
The shooting at Utah Valley University on Wednesday prompted a nationwide conversation about the tone of political discourse. Law enforcement reported that bullet casings found near the scene bore inscriptions with anti-fascist messages. The attack followed a July 2024 assassination attempt on Trump and has renewed accusations from Republican lawmakers and conservative commentators that media and Democratic rhetoric can fuel political violence when public figures invoke comparisons to Adolf Hitler.
Some Democrats defended forceful language used against Trump. Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas, said calling Trump a "wannabe Hitler" was an expression of disagreement, not an incitement to violence. "Me disagreeing with you, me calling you, you know, ‘wannabe Hitler,’ all those things are like, not necessarily saying, 'Go out and hurt somebody,'" Crockett said on a radio program Friday, adding that rhetoric that explicitly encourages physical harm crosses a line.
Comedians and commentators have also weighed in. Late-night host Bill Maher and others have urged an end to direct comparisons between contemporary politicians and Hitler, arguing that such rhetoric dilutes historical meaning and could make it easier for violent actors to rationalize attacks.
Fetterman said Democrats must reckon with electoral setbacks and reconnect with voters rather than rely on invective. "We’ve really kind of lost our connection with American voters in ways," he said. "You always can’t forget that a lot of Americans happen to disagree with you. That does not mean that they are fascists, or now they want to shred the Constitution."
Investigations into the Utah Valley University shooting remained ongoing, and law enforcement agencies continued to review evidence and statements to determine motive. The incident has intensified scrutiny of political rhetoric across the spectrum as leaders and commentators debate where to draw the line between forceful political criticism and language that could contribute to violence.
As the national conversation continues, Fetterman's comments reflect a broader call within parts of both parties and the media for more restrained public discourse while officials pursue facts in the violent attack that reignited concerns about political extremism and its consequences.