Fetterman Rebukes AOC's 'Clueless' Munich Remarks, Warns of 'Anti‑Israel' Strain in Democratic Party

Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) publicly criticized Rep. Alexandria Ocasio‑Cortez's comments about Israel after watching portions of her appearance at the Munich Security Conference. Speaking on Fox News' Jesse Watters Primetime, Fetterman said he found Ocasio‑Cortez's language "specifically anti‑Israel" and called some of her remarks "clueless."

“I saw some of it,” Fetterman said. “I think that the most troubling thing for her views is she is just, you know, anti‑Israel. I mean, and those views and, you know, so clueless — to sit in Germany and accuse Israel of genocide while you're sitting in Germany — and how ignorant that is.”

While Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., has tried to steer his party toward the center, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, is pulling it toward the far left.

Fetterman noted that Ocasio‑Cortez faced additional criticism for other statements she made at the conference — including comments about Taiwan and an erroneous remark about Venezuela's geographic location — but said he viewed her anti‑Israel language as evidence of a deeper problem among a faction of Democrats.

At a town‑hall session in Munich, Ocasio‑Cortez argued that U.S. aid to Israel helped enable what she described as a genocide in Gaza and urged that assistance be conditioned where credible allegations of gross human‑rights violations exist. She specifically cited the Leahy laws, statutes that prohibit U.S. funding for foreign security forces when there is credible information they committed gross human‑rights violations. The Leahy laws were first introduced by then‑Senator Patrick Leahy (D‑Vt.) in 1997.

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., speaks during the Munich Security Conference in Munich, Germany, Feb. 13, 2026.

Fetterman used the interview to call for a broad, inclusive Democratic Party. He said the party should be a "big tent" that tolerates differing views rather than ostracizing members over policy disagreements. Asked whether he was a fan of California Gov. Gavin Newsom, Fetterman said he liked Newsom personally despite policy differences and emphasized that regional differences within the party are to be expected.

Fox News Digital requested comment from Ocasio‑Cortez; she did not immediately respond. Benjamin Weinthal of Fox News Digital contributed reporting to this story.