Senator John Fetterman (D-PA) has increasingly criticized his own party’s messaging and behavior, urging Democrats to adopt a more relatable, mainstream approach. During President Trump’s 2025 joint address to Congress, Fetterman condemned Democratic lawmakers for their “unhinged petulance,” comparing their antics—such as displaying protest posters, boycotting the speech, or being ejected for disruptions—to ignored “metaphorical car alarms”. He warned that such tactics risked boosting Trump’s image as presidential while alienating voters. Fetterman later doubled down on this critique during an MSNBC interview, advising Democrats to “speak like normal people” rather than relying on academic jargon or divisive rhetoric.
Fetterman’s bipartisan streak has drawn attention. He endorsed Trump’s aggressive warnings to Hamas about hostage releases, tweeting, “Free all the hostages or resume targeting Hamas members. I completely concur with @POTUS”. He also broke ranks to co-sponsor the Republican-backed , a strict immigration enforcement bill named after a murder victim, and met privately with Trump after the 2024 election. However, his voting record remains largely aligned with Democratic leadership—he opposed a GOP bill to ban biological males from women’s sports, despite 67% of Democrats supporting such restrictions.
Critics argue Fetterman’s “maverick” persona conflicts with his legislative actions. While he publicly scolds his party’s messaging, he still votes with President Biden 97.3% of the time. His call for normality follows a pattern of blunt critiques, including mocking Democrats for “freaking out” over Trump’s policies and dismissing far-left social media activism as “a sewer is going to sewer”. These moves reflect Fetterman’s attempt to position himself as a pragmatic voice amid his party’s internal divisions.
