Senator John Fetterman (D-PA) sharply criticized members of his own party this week, calling out far-left Democrats for promoting socialist policies with no understanding of the real consequences. Speaking about a recent trip to Croatia—a country that lived under decades of communism—Fetterman said citizens there mocked American progressives who embrace socialism, calling them “morons.”
Fetterman made the comments during an interview while reacting to a Gallup poll showing that 66% of Democrats now view socialism more favorably than capitalism. He described conversations with Croatian citizens who survived life under a communist regime and were baffled by the rising popularity of socialism in the United States. Fetterman relayed their reaction plainly: “You are morons.”
According to Fetterman, the Croatians were “mystified” that Americans are even entertaining socialism, having seen firsthand the devastation it causes. He noted that while younger American voters embrace slogans about “free everything,” people who lived through actual socialism understand the reality—economic collapse, state control, and the loss of individual freedoms.
The senator’s remarks stand in sharp contrast to members of the Democratic Party’s progressive wing, such as New York Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani, who champions government-run stores, fare-free transit, universal childcare, and tax hikes on top earners. Critics argue these policies reflect a naive view of government power and ignore the long-term costs of expanding bureaucratic control.
Fetterman’s comments underscore a growing ideological rift within the Democratic Party. While the far-left pushes for socialist reforms, moderate Democrats and many independents remain wary of repeating the mistakes seen in countries that abandoned free-market economies for government centralization.
