WASHINGTON, D.C. — In the wake of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk’s shocking assassination during a campus event in Utah, Senator John Fetterman (D-Pa.) has issued a blunt warning to his own party: stop comparing Donald Trump to Adolf Hitler.

Speaking to CNN’s Manu Raju on Wednesday, shortly after news broke that Kirk had been shot at Utah Valley University, Fetterman made it clear that rhetoric equating Trump to dictators or fascists is dangerous, divisive, and — in light of recent violence — potentially deadly.

Fetterman’s Call for Cooler Heads

At the time of the interview, Kirk’s death had not yet been confirmed. Still, the Pennsylvania Democrat said the political climate had reached a dangerous boiling point.

“I think you just don’t ever, ever compare anyone to Hitler and those kinds of extreme things,” Fetterman said. “Now, look what happened to Charlie Kirk. I mean, the man was shot. Now, we have to turn the temperature down. We can’t compare people to these kinds of figures in history. And this is not an autocrat. This is a product of a democratic election.”

His remarks cut against a trend among some Democrats and progressive activists who, in recent months, have escalated rhetoric against Trump as the 2024–2025 election cycle unfolded. Just a day earlier, protesters in Washington had carried signs referring to the former president as “the Hitler of our time.”

Fetterman made clear that such language is irresponsible. “We can disagree with Trump. We can oppose him fiercely. But the second you start throwing around names like Hitler, you’ve lost sight of reality. That kind of talk doesn’t win voters. It radicalizes people. It dehumanizes your opponents. And in this case, it coincides with the murder of a political activist on a university campus.”

A Rare Intra-Party Rebuke

Fetterman’s comments represent a rare and direct rebuke of his own party’s rhetoric. While he has long carved out a reputation as an independent voice within the Democratic caucus — at times criticizing progressive activists and the party’s messaging — his statement following Kirk’s death stands out for its urgency.

“I’m saying [Trump] is definitely different,” Fetterman told CNN. “But that’s what America voted for. Again, I don’t agree with many of these things, but that does not make him an autocrat.”

The senator emphasized that Democrats risk alienating moderate and independent voters if they continue framing the political fight in apocalyptic terms. He noted that while Trump challenges certain norms of politics, calling him a dictator does not reflect the reality that his leadership emerged through a democratic process.

Context: The Charlie Kirk Assassination

The comments came amid a national shockwave following the assassination of 31-year-old Charlie Kirk, a rising star in conservative activism.

Kirk was gunned down Wednesday evening at Utah Valley University while addressing more than 3,000 students and supporters as part of his “American Comeback Tour.” According to investigators, the suspected assassin, 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, fired a single shot from a rooftop roughly 200 yards away, striking Kirk in the neck and killing him instantly.

Robinson, later turned in by his father after a 33-hour manhunt, is now in federal custody. Authorities are probing his motives and reviewing his digital communications, though early reports suggest radicalized political beliefs may have played a role.

The killing has sparked bipartisan condemnation. Leaders from both parties described the act as an attack on free speech and a dangerous escalation in America’s increasingly polarized climate.

Democrats Under Fire for Rhetoric

Even before Fetterman’s comments, some Democrats had faced backlash for their reactions to Kirk’s death. Representative Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas), in a radio appearance on The Breakfast Club, defended comparing Trump and Kirk supporters to Hitler — remarks that critics say poured fuel on an already volatile moment.

Similarly, Representative Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) dismissed claims that Kirk’s mission centered on “civil debate,” pointing instead to his rhetoric on issues like Juneteenth and George Floyd. Her comments, delivered with what critics described as a dismissive grin, further inflamed tensions.

Against this backdrop, Fetterman’s warning carried additional weight. By urging Democrats to move away from Hitler comparisons, he positioned himself as a voice of restraint in a party where fiery language has increasingly become the norm.

A Plea to Reassess Strategy

Fetterman did not stop at condemning rhetoric. He also suggested that Democrats need to rethink their broader approach to voters heading into the next election cycle.

“Look, I’m not changing my party. I’m a Democrat,” Fetterman said. “But I do think we’ve got to reassess how we’re talking to people. We have to respect the fact that Americans can make choices, even choices we disagree with. That doesn’t make half the country fascists.”

The senator’s critique echoes concerns raised by some centrist Democrats who worry that over-the-top comparisons risk alienating swing voters in battleground states — including Pennsylvania, where Fetterman himself won his Senate seat by appealing to working-class voters across party lines.

Reactions Across the Political Spectrum

Fetterman’s remarks drew immediate attention across the political spectrum. Conservatives praised his candor, pointing out that it is rare for a Democrat to push back so directly against rhetoric within the party. Several Republican lawmakers applauded his call to “turn down the temperature.”

On the left, reactions were mixed. Some progressives accused Fetterman of minimizing the threat posed by Trump, pointing to efforts to overturn the 2020 election and ongoing legal battles. Others, however, acknowledged the wisdom in avoiding hyperbolic comparisons that can backfire politically and potentially inspire violence.

Political analysts suggested that Fetterman’s intervention could spark a larger conversation within the Democratic Party about messaging discipline in an era where political rhetoric often goes viral within minutes.

The Bigger Picture: Violence and Polarization

The assassination of Charlie Kirk is only the latest in a series of violent episodes tied to America’s polarized political environment. Last year, Trump himself survived multiple assassination attempts, while members of Congress from both parties have faced threats and attacks.

Experts warn that as rhetoric intensifies, so too does the risk of individuals translating heated words into violent action. “Language matters,” said Dr. Elaine Carter, a political violence researcher. “When leaders — from either side — describe their opponents as dictators, fascists, or existential threats to democracy, they create a climate where violence can feel justified to someone already radicalized.”

Fetterman’s plea for restraint, then, is not only about electoral strategy but about public safety. His comments underline a growing recognition that America’s political class must take responsibility for the words it uses.

Conclusion

Senator John Fetterman’s rebuke of fellow Democrats following the assassination of Charlie Kirk may prove to be a defining moment in how the party navigates its rhetoric heading into the 2025 election cycle. By urging colleagues to abandon Hitler comparisons and extreme labels, he highlighted both the dangers of political polarization and the urgent need to lower the national temperature.

As the investigation into Kirk’s murder continues, the Pennsylvania senator’s words resonate as both a warning and a challenge: if political leaders cannot rein in their rhetoric, America risks spiraling deeper into a cycle of violence and division.

For now, Fetterman has drawn a line, insisting that while Trump may be controversial, inflammatory comparisons to history’s darkest figures only harm democracy further. And after Charlie Kirk’s assassination, the stakes could not be clearer.