Is it Time for the Democratic Party to Hear John Fetterman?
The Pennsylvania senator discusses the 'bros' vote, sharing his views on potential collaboration with Trump and addressing the issue of Democrats labeling Trump as a fascist.
TroibNews 
John Fetterman has a notable knack for predicting which presidential candidate will win in Pennsylvania.
In the lead-up to the 2024 elections, the Democratic senator cautioned that Donald Trump was gaining traction, while he had previously expressed confidence in Joe Biden's chances in 2020 and again this year, despite the president facing challenges during his debate. Fetterman also warned about Hillary Clinton's prospects in 2016, asserting that “the white male vote is going to decide the race.”
During an interview this week, Fetterman discussed why Trump was able to win Pennsylvania for a second time, stating that Trump “has a special connection” to the state. He illustrated this with an example of a "Walmart of Trump swag" in western Pennsylvania where “people are pulling up and buying that shit” at 9 p.m., akin to “fireworks on July 3rd.”
Fetterman pointed to billionaire Elon Musk’s endorsement of Trump as significant and criticized Democrats for appearing "weak" when they attempted, unsuccessfully, to stop a $1 million giveaway to voters. He mentioned that the assassination attempt on Trump in Butler—just a 45-minute drive from his home—“changed everything.”
“Immediately after that, when I was out, I saw people with custom shirts with that image,” he said, referencing the famous photo of Trump raising his fist following the incident. “It’s like, ‘They tried everything. They impeached this man, they put him on trial. You know, the media. And now they tried to kill him, and he survived.’ And he had the presence of mind to even respond, and created that. What if that was [Barack] Obama? Can you imagine what that would have meant to Democrats?”
The conversation also included Fetterman’s views on Kamala Harris calling Trump a “fascist,” how Republicans navigated Democrats' advantages on abortion this election cycle, and potential issues for collaboration with Trump.
This discussion has been revised for brevity and clarity.
After Joe Biden’s debate over the summer, you expressed that he should not drop out. We can both acknowledge he had a rough debate.
Individuals like [Nancy] Pelosi have tried to play a dual role, positioning herself as “the godmother, she's the enforcer,” yet now blame Biden. You can’t have it both ways. You got what you wanted, and now you're still pointing fingers at Biden.
It’s quite ironic to see a woman at 84 still clinging to power. Why not allow a younger generation the chance to take that seat?
Given the current insights into how much of a red wave the recent elections were, and acknowledging inflation's role in the results—do you think Biden would have emerged victorious? We'll never know if Biden would have won or not. It was always expected to be extremely tight. It was genuinely challenging.
What are your thoughts on Harris’ labeling of Trump as a fascist? I have great respect for those who are staunch Trump supporters. They're not fascists. When terms like that are thrown around, it complicates the conversation.
That term isn’t commonly used among voters. For Democrats, employing difficult language hasn’t proven effective in the past.
In hindsight, do you believe the Ohio and Montana Senate races were ever realistically winnable? Or should Democrats have redirected their resources? I predicted that Trump would win Montana by 20 points. Jon Tester is beloved; he’s truly an authentic leader. While individuals can be strong, not everyone can bear the heavy weight alone.
It's curious that Democrats were adamant about heavily investing in that situation but abandoned Biden.
Sherrod Brown is incredibly dedicated and has put everything he could into his campaign, yet it’s undeniable that Ohio is a solidly red state.
Exit polls revealed that men aged 18 to 29 voted for Trump. At your campaign events in 2022, many of your supporters were young men. After appearing on Joe Rogan’s podcast this year, what insights have you gathered about engaging these voters? This election was significant for young men. It's baffling that Democrats would insult certain groups—like calling them “childless cat ladies.” It’s unnecessary and dismissive. Yet similarly, the portrayal of “bros” often carries a negative connotation, being seen as unsophisticated or superficial.
I don’t understand the hesitation to appear on Rogan. I’ve been an admirer of his for years. While I don’t share every thought with him, we all bear a responsibility to engage with differing perspectives.
The Trump interview on Rogan reached 42 million viewers. Dismissing such an influential platform seems unfathomable.
I’ve appeared on Fox News, and they've treated our discussions fairly. I even had a straightforward chat on Newsmax. I’m open to dialogue with anyone, provided it's forthright.
A notable observation was that none of Harris’ abortion advertisements targeted younger men. I would assume someone from Barstool Sports wouldn't support a national abortion ban. What are your thoughts? I stand firmly by Roe. It should have never been altered and should remain in place. The recent shift allows states to determine their abortion policies. The GOP has framed that narrative effectively by saying, “Where it exists, we have no issue with that.”
It’s a balance of pro-choices and restrictions by state. Many Americans have seemingly accepted that this is the present reality.
While a few extreme voices may call for a national abortion ban, the broader Republican sentiment recognizes that “we've kind of won” on this issue.
Are there any areas where you could collaborate with Trump? Certainly. Safeguarding the American steel industry is one. We should be resolutely pro-Israel and assertive against China.
You’re recognized as a strong ally of the LGBTQ community. In light of the recent election results, some Democrats have suggested re-evaluating their stance on trans issues. Targeting trans or LGBTQ youth is fundamentally un-American. If someone believes that attacking these children showcases strength, it’s simply sad. My children have friends from those communities, and they’re amazing kids facing enough challenges already.
I assure you, the struggles of those kids are not the pressing issues our nation currently faces, and they deserve our support. It’s a deeply personal matter that requires empathy, not hostility. Introducing this into polarizing debates only harms these young individuals.
Recently, there have been conversations around whether children should receive gender-affirming care such as hormones and surgeries. What’s your stance? These discussions are profoundly personal and should occur between healthcare professionals, parents, and the child involved. However, weaponizing the issue is what’s truly troubling within our current political landscape. It impacts those grappling with their identities and concerns. It’s unacceptable to mock or dehumanize them.
I’ve reiterated that if anyone seeks to exploit my support for these communities to criticize children, my response is clear: vote for someone else.
Jessica Kline for TROIB News
In the lead-up to the 2024 elections, the Democratic senator cautioned that Donald Trump was gaining traction, while he had previously expressed confidence in Joe Biden's chances in 2020 and again this year, despite the president facing challenges during his debate. Fetterman also warned about Hillary Clinton's prospects in 2016, asserting that “the white male vote is going to decide the race.”
During an interview this week, Fetterman discussed why Trump was able to win Pennsylvania for a second time, stating that Trump “has a special connection” to the state. He illustrated this with an example of a "Walmart of Trump swag" in western Pennsylvania where “people are pulling up and buying that shit” at 9 p.m., akin to “fireworks on July 3rd.”
Fetterman pointed to billionaire Elon Musk’s endorsement of Trump as significant and criticized Democrats for appearing "weak" when they attempted, unsuccessfully, to stop a $1 million giveaway to voters. He mentioned that the assassination attempt on Trump in Butler—just a 45-minute drive from his home—“changed everything.”
“Immediately after that, when I was out, I saw people with custom shirts with that image,” he said, referencing the famous photo of Trump raising his fist following the incident. “It’s like, ‘They tried everything. They impeached this man, they put him on trial. You know, the media. And now they tried to kill him, and he survived.’ And he had the presence of mind to even respond, and created that. What if that was [Barack] Obama? Can you imagine what that would have meant to Democrats?”
The conversation also included Fetterman’s views on Kamala Harris calling Trump a “fascist,” how Republicans navigated Democrats' advantages on abortion this election cycle, and potential issues for collaboration with Trump.
This discussion has been revised for brevity and clarity.
After Joe Biden’s debate over the summer, you expressed that he should not drop out. We can both acknowledge he had a rough debate.
Individuals like [Nancy] Pelosi have tried to play a dual role, positioning herself as “the godmother, she's the enforcer,” yet now blame Biden. You can’t have it both ways. You got what you wanted, and now you're still pointing fingers at Biden.
It’s quite ironic to see a woman at 84 still clinging to power. Why not allow a younger generation the chance to take that seat?
Given the current insights into how much of a red wave the recent elections were, and acknowledging inflation's role in the results—do you think Biden would have emerged victorious? We'll never know if Biden would have won or not. It was always expected to be extremely tight. It was genuinely challenging.
What are your thoughts on Harris’ labeling of Trump as a fascist? I have great respect for those who are staunch Trump supporters. They're not fascists. When terms like that are thrown around, it complicates the conversation.
That term isn’t commonly used among voters. For Democrats, employing difficult language hasn’t proven effective in the past.
In hindsight, do you believe the Ohio and Montana Senate races were ever realistically winnable? Or should Democrats have redirected their resources? I predicted that Trump would win Montana by 20 points. Jon Tester is beloved; he’s truly an authentic leader. While individuals can be strong, not everyone can bear the heavy weight alone.
It's curious that Democrats were adamant about heavily investing in that situation but abandoned Biden.
Sherrod Brown is incredibly dedicated and has put everything he could into his campaign, yet it’s undeniable that Ohio is a solidly red state.
Exit polls revealed that men aged 18 to 29 voted for Trump. At your campaign events in 2022, many of your supporters were young men. After appearing on Joe Rogan’s podcast this year, what insights have you gathered about engaging these voters? This election was significant for young men. It's baffling that Democrats would insult certain groups—like calling them “childless cat ladies.” It’s unnecessary and dismissive. Yet similarly, the portrayal of “bros” often carries a negative connotation, being seen as unsophisticated or superficial.
I don’t understand the hesitation to appear on Rogan. I’ve been an admirer of his for years. While I don’t share every thought with him, we all bear a responsibility to engage with differing perspectives.
The Trump interview on Rogan reached 42 million viewers. Dismissing such an influential platform seems unfathomable.
I’ve appeared on Fox News, and they've treated our discussions fairly. I even had a straightforward chat on Newsmax. I’m open to dialogue with anyone, provided it's forthright.
A notable observation was that none of Harris’ abortion advertisements targeted younger men. I would assume someone from Barstool Sports wouldn't support a national abortion ban. What are your thoughts? I stand firmly by Roe. It should have never been altered and should remain in place. The recent shift allows states to determine their abortion policies. The GOP has framed that narrative effectively by saying, “Where it exists, we have no issue with that.”
It’s a balance of pro-choices and restrictions by state. Many Americans have seemingly accepted that this is the present reality.
While a few extreme voices may call for a national abortion ban, the broader Republican sentiment recognizes that “we've kind of won” on this issue.
Are there any areas where you could collaborate with Trump? Certainly. Safeguarding the American steel industry is one. We should be resolutely pro-Israel and assertive against China.
You’re recognized as a strong ally of the LGBTQ community. In light of the recent election results, some Democrats have suggested re-evaluating their stance on trans issues. Targeting trans or LGBTQ youth is fundamentally un-American. If someone believes that attacking these children showcases strength, it’s simply sad. My children have friends from those communities, and they’re amazing kids facing enough challenges already.
I assure you, the struggles of those kids are not the pressing issues our nation currently faces, and they deserve our support. It’s a deeply personal matter that requires empathy, not hostility. Introducing this into polarizing debates only harms these young individuals.
Recently, there have been conversations around whether children should receive gender-affirming care such as hormones and surgeries. What’s your stance? These discussions are profoundly personal and should occur between healthcare professionals, parents, and the child involved. However, weaponizing the issue is what’s truly troubling within our current political landscape. It impacts those grappling with their identities and concerns. It’s unacceptable to mock or dehumanize them.
I’ve reiterated that if anyone seeks to exploit my support for these communities to criticize children, my response is clear: vote for someone else.
Jessica Kline for TROIB News
