John Fetterman’s own communications director harshly criticizes his views on Israel
Senator John Fetterman is one of the most outspoken supporters of Israel in the Democratic Party. It appears his top communications officer is not.
Carrie Adams, communications director for the Pennsylvania Democrat, broke openly with her boss in a new interview, causing surprise.
“I don’t agree with him,” she told the Free press after an interview the senator gave to the newspaper.
“I feel like his international views are much less nuanced than my generation. When he was growing up, it was a case of might is might. My generation and younger generations, who are protesting against this, have a much more nuanced view of the region,” Adams added.
Senator John Fetterman is one of the most outspoken supporters of Israel in the Democratic Party. It appears that his top communications officer is not
Carrie Adams, the Pennsylvania Democrat’s communications director, has publicly broken with her boss in a new interview, prompting surprise
Adams is 38. Fetterman is 55.
The Free Press reporter noted, “I’ve been a reporter since the summer of 1998, when I covered Bill Clinton’s trip to Martha’s Vineyard for the Vineyard Gazette. This was the first time I’d ever encountered anyone — on Capitol Hill or anywhere, on the record, off the record, on background, whatever — who criticized ‘the director.’
The progressive from Pennsylvania, who called himself a “regular Democrat,” has not shied away from criticizing members of his own party for their positions on the tense conflict.
“I’m frustrated with some of my members and the way they’re handling that situation,” Fetterman said of the war in Gaza.
“I don’t agree with many of their positions, but whatever political choices I’ve made or whatever political costs I’ve had to pay, I don’t care.”
He added: ‘I have never regretted it for a moment.’
Insiders on Capitol Hill were quick to point out that a communications officer’s job is to express his boss’s point of view, not his own.
“If I had a staffer who publicly challenged my position on an issue like Israel, that staffer would be fired in a heartbeat. In every congressional office, there is only one name on the door, only one director who is elected to office by the people,” Rep. Ritchie Torres, D-N.Y., another ardent Israel supporter, noted in X.
“If you can’t keep up with the program, then you shouldn’t be part of the program anymore.”
Maggie Howell, a former communications officer for former Chairman Kevin McCarthy, posted a fictitious job posting for a communications director in Fetterman’s office.
This isn’t the first time Fetterman has gotten into trouble in his office over Israel.
Joe Calvello, Fetterman’s communications director who helped him navigate the tumultuous Senate race through his campaign, left in March to work with liberal Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson.
Adams took over from Calvello in April.
Nick Gavio, Fetterman’s former deputy communications director who started his campaign, left his office a few weeks later to work for the Working Families Party, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported.
Adams previously worked at Meta, where she was part of the policy team.
Fetterman does not plan to attend this week’s Democratic National Convention (DNC), but he dismissed suggestions that this has anything to do with partisan disputes over the war between Israel and Hamas.
“I have three young children and they’re out of school,” the Keystone State Democrat told the Free Press. “That’s four days that I get to spend with my kids.”
However, he again expressed his frustration with some in his party and the way they are handling the war in Gaza.
“I’m frustrated with some of my members and the way they’re handling this situation,” Fetterman said. “I don’t agree with a lot of their positions, but whatever political choices or political costs I’ve made over this time, I don’t care.”
Wearing his signature hoodie and shorts in June, Fetterman met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyhu.
“Israel has had no better friend than Senator John Fetterman. Senator, welcome to Israel. I want to thank you for your courageous statements that show moral clarity and moral courage, and you just tell it like it is,” Netanyahu said.
Fetterman responded, “We stand with Israel in this situation and I am deeply sorry for what has been done to this country, but it is just an honor to be here today.”