A new Wall Street Journal report has revealed that Democratic Senator John Fetterman cancelled a scheduled meeting with three paralysed veterans from Pennsylvania, who had travelled to Washington seeking his support on veterans' care legislation, so he could instead appear on Fox News to speak in defence of Israel. The report, based on interviews with more than a dozen former staffers and lawmakers alongside internal texts and records, paints a picture of a senator increasingly estranged from his own party amid his staunch pro-Israel stance and mounting frustration with Democratic leadership.

The veterans were told Fetterman had pulled out at the last minute citing illness, yet he appeared unwell-free less than an hour later for his television interview. The same report detailed his dismissive reaction to news of a funeral for three police officers killed near York, Pennsylvania, where he grew up; on learning the service would last three hours, he texted "3 hours??" and called it "a non-starter" before ultimately skipping the event, which Governor Josh Shapiro attended. Fetterman has reportedly stopped attending Democratic lunches and meetings since being overlooked for a Senate Foreign Relations Committee seat, prompting fellow Pennsylvania Democrat Brendan Boyle to brand him "a disgrace" — a sign he may face a primary challenge in 2028.