Senator John Fetterman (D-Pa.) advised his fellow Democrats to relax regarding President-elect Trump and his recent appointments, noting that Trump hasn’t even been inaugurated yet. In an interview with NBC News on Friday, Fetterman urged, “If you’re already exhausted, freaking out, and it’s not even Thanksgiving, then you really ought to pace yourselves. Because he hasn’t even been inaugurated yet.”
He further emphasized the need to remain calm and discerning, adding, “You really have to chill out, and you’re going to have to be more discerning or discriminate on what’s going to freak you out, or what’s just trolling. It’s not the weather, it’s the climate now for the next four years.”
Fetterman calls Matt Gaetz’s appointment a masterclass in trolling
Fetterman’s remarks came after Trump announced several Cabinet and administration appointments that shocked many in Washington. Among them were the selections of former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) for attorney general, former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-Hawaii) for director of national intelligence, and Fox News’s Pete Hegseth for defense secretary.
The Pennsylvania senator dismissed Trump’s choice of Gaetz for attorney general as “nothing but trolling,” adding, “Even the Republicans know who he is.” Fetterman explained, “That’s got to be candy for him [Trump] to watch everyone get triggered.
I’ve said this before, it’s like, clutch those pearls harder and scold louder, that’s not going to win.” He pointed out that this approach has been ineffective in the past. Reflecting on the 2024 presidential election, in which Trump triumphed over Vice President Harris in all seven battleground states, Fetterman acknowledged that his party had made missteps in targeting specific voter groups.
He noted, “We have a challenge. We have our own kind of ‘childless cat ladies’ situation: ‘Bros.’ People refer to these young guys as bros, and clearly that’s not a positive term.” Despite calling Gaetz’s nomination the “ultimate troll,” Fetterman also stated earlier this week that he would vote in favor of confirming another Trump nominee, Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.).
He wrote on social media, “Unsurprisingly, the other team’s pick will have political differences than my own. That being said, my colleague @SenMarcoRubio is a strong choice and I look forward to voting for his confirmation.”
