Pennsylvania Democratic Sen. John Fetterman has once again broken with many members of his own party to defend President Donald Trump against accusations that he is an “autocrat,” while sharply criticizing those who have compared him to Adolf Hitler or other extreme historical figures.
Fetterman’s comments came just days after the shocking assassination of conservative commentator and Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk — a man who had frequently been targeted with inflammatory rhetoric from critics on the left. The senator suggested that such rhetoric contributes to an increasingly dangerous political climate.
During a sit-down conversation with CNN’s chief congressional correspondent Manu Raju, Fetterman pushed back on the idea that Trump should be labeled as autocratic. “If you actually compare him to an actual autocrat, that is not — that is not just that,” Fetterman said, insisting that the comparison is not accurate.
He went on to say that he believes comparing any American political figure to Adolf Hitler crosses a moral line. “Last night, for example, people were complaining and protesting and shouting, ‘Oh, that’s Hitler, that’s Hitler.’ I think you just don’t ever, ever compare anyone to Hitler and those kinds of extreme things,” he argued. “Those are very serious comparisons, and when you throw them around so casually, it only raises the temperature in a country that is already on edge.”
Fetterman pointed to Kirk’s assassination as a tragic example of where overheated rhetoric can lead. “Now look what happened to Charlie Kirk. I mean, the man was shot,” he said somberly. “We have to turn the temperature down. We can’t keep comparing our political opponents to history’s worst villains and expect this not to have real-world consequences.”
The senator also spoke personally about his respect for the democratic process, noting that Trump’s presidency is the result of a free and fair election. “This is not an autocrat,” Fetterman said. “This is the product of a democratic election. I participated in that election. It was safe, it was secure, and we lost. The American people put us in the minority — that’s democracy. And I revere democracy. I may not like the outcome, but I have to respect it and work within it. That is what is appropriate.”
Raju pressed Fetterman further, asking whether he believed Trump had broken with democratic norms. The senator conceded that Trump is certainly not a traditional politician. “He’s definitely different, but that’s what America voted for — again,” Fetterman said. “I don’t agree with many of these policies or actions, but that does not make him an autocrat. It does not make him Hitler or any of these other outlandish comparisons.”
Meanwhile, federal investigators have released more details about the suspect in Kirk’s assassination, 22-year-old Tyler Robinson. Senior FBI officials told Fox News Digital that Robinson had been living with his romantic partner, 22-year-old Lance Twiggs, in St. George, Utah, at the time of the shooting. Authorities described Twiggs as fully cooperative and emphasized that there is no evidence tying him to the murder plot.
Investigators removed computers, phones, and other potential evidence from the shared apartment and sent them to the FBI’s Quantico lab for forensic analysis. “Twiggs had no idea Robinson was allegedly planning to kill Kirk,” one FBI official said, stressing that Twiggs is not facing charges. “Every connection, every group, every link will be investigated. Anyone involved in this crime, anywhere in the world they might be, will be brought to justice.”
Law enforcement sources also revealed that Robinson’s father played a crucial role in bringing the manhunt to an end. After FBI Director Kash Patel authorized the release of surveillance images from the crime scene, Robinson’s father recognized his son and contacted authorities. Following a conversation with a family minister, the father convinced Robinson to turn himself in peacefully.
According to those familiar with the family, Robinson was emotionally distraught upon returning home and expressed suicidal thoughts, telling relatives that he wanted to end his life. Authorities say Robinson is now in federal custody and is undergoing psychological evaluation as prosecutors prepare to bring charges.
