The Pennsylvania senator has regularly criticized his party, sparking speculation he could caucus with Republicans after the 2026 midterms. At the Texas Tribune Festival, he called on Democrats to embrace a diversity of views.

Pennsylvania U.S. Sen. John Fetterman defended his position in the Democratic Party on Saturday, arguing there should be more room for different opinions in the party.

At the closing keynote of the Texas Tribune Festival, Fetterman said he doesn’t have a reason to join the Republicans, pointing to the fact that he joins the Democrats on most partisan votes.

“I don’t have a reason to,” Fetterman said. “But for a big-tent situation, it’s easier to be included in that big tent to say America deserved 9/11 or America is worse than Al-Qaida than being very proud to stand on the side of Israel.”

In a wide-ranging interview, Fetterman also pushed back against reporting from The Wall Street Journal this month that the senator dodged constituent meetings, drawing accusations that he was disinterested in doing the job of a senator.