John Fetterman calls Graham Platner a ‘bona fide dirtbag’: Full interview

[0:00] And joining me now is Pennsylvania Democratic Senator John Fetterman. Senator Fetterman, [0:05] thank you so much for being here. We really appreciate it. Oh, well, thanks for having me [0:11] here. Well, we have a lot to get to. Let's start off with the midterms. We are five months out from [0:18] the general election in November. Leader Chuck Schumer says he is confident Democrats have [0:24] multiple paths to flip the Senate. Do you share his confidence, Senator? [0:28] Well, I mean, I am. We have fantastic candidates all across the map with Maine, [0:37] except for Maine. And you have incredible, we have great choice in Texas. We have the legend of [0:44] Brown in Ohio, and we have Cooper in North Carolina, and we have Turek in Iowa. And then we have a great [0:53] candidate in Alaska. We've put a lot of things, you know, in play. And, you know, Trump has made, [0:59] you know, anything possible for Democrats in this cycle, because I know there is significant [1:04] backlash, and everybody's already assumed that the House will flip. But that's history. You know, [1:10] regardless who's in power, the House usually always changes. But here we are now, you know, [1:16] after what the president decided to do, you know, and jam corn, I don't understand other than that [1:23] quote, you know, saying, sometimes a man just wants to see the world burn and do that and create that [1:29] extra drama in Texas. Well, we'll be watching Texas closely. I have to ask you about Graham [1:36] Plattner. You just talked about the Maine race. I don't have to tell you, Senator. I know you've [1:42] talked about this, but his campaign has been plagued by controversies, including allegations of [1:47] physically aggressive behavior in past relationships. Now, he denies ever being [1:52] violent. You have called him a creep. You've said people are rightfully concerned about his behavior. [1:59] Some of your Democratic colleagues, though, say that they— Well, go ahead. Go ahead. [2:05] I mean, he's a bona fide dirtbag. I mean, without a doubt. I mean, you know, all of the, you know, [2:10] the Nazi tattoo and the insane things that he said online, you know, whether he roughs up, [2:16] you know, former girlfriends for all of these things, you know, like, you know, what's his [2:21] resume, you know, honestly? You know, look at what the Democrats, you know, like, we have great [2:26] candidates. Do you know what the Republicans have? They can go after Tallarico about he doesn't eat [2:32] enough meat or about pronouns kind of drama or whatever other thing. I mean, look at this. You know, [2:37] they have nothing on Brown or Cooper or in Peltola in Alaska or for across the map here. Now, [2:45] this is the situation that we are. And that's why that we have enough things, enough in play. [2:52] And that's why I would certainly be optimistic that we have multiple paths at this point. [2:58] Senator, though, what do you say? Oh, and Ossoff too, you know. [3:02] Yeah, you have John Ossoff. Ossoff too. He's untouchable down in Georgia. He's definitely [3:08] going to run. He's definitely going to win without a doubt. You know, in fact, Ossoff, [3:13] you know, it took Georgia off any real concern. Yes, of course, we'll have to spend money and he'll [3:18] do the work. But absolutely. And again, North Carolina, that's money in the bank, you know, [3:24] too. In fact, they've actually just shifted that now over to lean Democrat. And Brown is the kind [3:29] of guy that can flip that seat in in Ohio. They have a really a strong, strong thing. And you have [3:35] someone they have they have the P hustle version in Texas with Paxton. So now they put things in [3:42] play, you know, with with Texas for sure. Let me ask you, though, because what do you say to some [3:48] of your fellow Democrats who say, yes, like you, they're uncomfortable with Graham Plattner, but they [3:54] would argue they think he's still better than Senator Susan Collins. What say you? [4:00] I'm saying I'm saying be honest. It's like the only good thing you could say about him is he [4:04] happens to have a D after the end of his name. You know, otherwise, what are you going to to brag [4:10] about him? Is it about his Nazi ink? Is it that he used to mock American heroes that don't deserve to [4:17] live or the, you know, he rough up former ex-girlfriends for all of these things? So so so for me, [4:24] like if if I if I was hearing that, well, at least he's a Democrat, you know, and and I'll that's [4:33] where we are because otherwise. Let me ask you because he actually invoked your name. And he's [4:39] not even a Democrat. He's a communist. Yeah, that's right. He's he's he's a communist. So [4:44] that that's what I'm saying. He he's the guy that claims he's the guy that claims that that white [4:50] people in Maine are all racist and stupid. I mean, let me ask you about what he has said about you. [4:58] This is what he said about you at a recent town hall. I want to give you the opportunity [5:02] to respond. He says, I get a lot of criticisms. I get a lot of criticisms about the way this [5:08] government functions. But in order for us to make it functional, we're going to have to do stuff. [5:14] And you can't just go down there and be John Fetterman and just sort of be. And he uses an [5:20] expletive. What's your response to that criticism, Senator? Oh, I'm devastated. I'm devastated. [5:28] You know, like the guy that, you know, the tough guy that roughs up, you know, ex-girlfriends and the [5:35] guy with the Nazi tattoo and all those things. So for me, like, you know, I'll take everything he [5:42] says as a badge of honor. And he's going to find out, you know, like once, you know, if he does win, [5:48] he's going to find out he's going to be 100, 100 out of 100. And now, you know, you're not going to [5:54] drag Jeff Bezos in. You know, you're not going to, you know, he was bragging, I'm going to get [5:59] arrested. You know, go ahead. Go be, go be a dick and go get arrested. You know, that'll go. They'll [6:06] love it. They'll love it, you know, here in the Senate now. So, so that's, that's, here we are. [6:11] And, you know, I'll be the Democrat to call it what it is. And you will see me saying only positive [6:18] things, only positive things about these incredible Democrats and these candidates, [6:22] you know, that are here in the map right now. Well, and we should note he has denied any violence [6:31] against past girlfriends. He says he didn't know the meaning of the Nazi tattoo. That's what he does. [6:36] He lies about everything. So you don't, you don't buy his denials. What I'm saying, it's like, [6:45] this is a guy that's been dropping dick pics on kick for a decade, you know, and now you're, [6:49] you know, you're a journalist, you all know what kick is for. And, you know, they have significant [6:55] problems about being, you know, the predators, predators playground for their, you know, why [7:00] can't someone, perhaps you ask him, why did you choose kick of all the different apps? You know, [7:06] why did you choose kick? And, you know, what was your safeguards to make sure that you weren't [7:10] interacting with people that are at least legal appropriate to, and now he could just, we could [7:17] just, just drop it. You know, he could just release all of those kinds of texts and he can [7:22] explain it for everybody. You know, he could clear it all up. But, but, but right now, this is what [7:28] I'm saying. Like, he's an unknown guy that's been lying about his, his character and his record ever [7:34] since. Now, I'm sure there'll be more shoes to drop and it's only June. Well, to your point, [7:40] we have invited him on this program. He has an open invitation and would like to be able to ask him [7:45] some pressing questions. Let me switch to the war in Iran. President Trump says a deal is imminent. [7:52] Do you think, Senator, a deal is within reach? What have you been told? I mean, who, who really, [7:59] who really knows? And, and the only reason why I've been the only Democrat to support this, [8:04] because I remain true to the Democratic commitment to say we can never let Iran acquire a nuclear bomb. [8:10] A year ago, you know, midnight hammer, I was the only Democrat that there's the right thing to do. [8:16] And I celebrated that. And now, you know, with this deal, what it is require Iran to, to turn over [8:23] the nuclear dust a hundred percent. You know, that's what, this is really what it's, what it's really [8:27] all about that. And now people that are angry about gas prices, you know, blame Iran, you know, [8:33] at this point, where's the rest of our allies saying collectively, we can demand Iran to turn over [8:38] that nuclear dust right now. And now these kinds of countries that say, well, that's not our war. [8:44] It's like, well, does your nation, you consume oil? Well, then that makes it your, that makes it your [8:49] war now too. And if you care about peace in the Middle East, yeah, well, then that makes it your war [8:55] now too. So this idea that this is a vendetta, no, this is what every single president's been trying [9:02] to address in the last nearly five decades, you know, someone decided to do about it. And I'll be the [9:08] honest Democrat to just say, okay, I support that. And now, of course, I know how damaging [9:14] that is for me and standing in my party, but I, it's not a pro vote on war. It is a pro no nuclear [9:22] Iran. That's what my vote for, for this. And I'm going to stand by it because I'll never be a part [9:27] of the vote, you know, that forces us to walk away or abandon that. And Iran is able to, to build a [9:33] nuclear bomb. All right. Senator John Fetterman, we covered a lot of ground. Thank you so very much [9:39] for your time. Really appreciate it. Hope you'll come back soon. [9:42] We thank you for watching and remember, stay updated on breaking news and top stories on the NBC News app [9:49] or watch live on our YouTube channel.