The Strange Case of John Fetterman
John Fetterman’s Transformation from Progressive Rebel to Trump-Friendly Democrat
What Happened to John Fetterman?
Remember when John Fetterman was the hoodie-wearing, weed-legalizing, union-backing progressive who didn’t care about playing the political game? He was the guy who stood with Bernie Sanders, talked about Medicare for All, and made a name for himself by saying what a lot of Democrats were thinking but wouldn’t say out loud.
But over the past year, that version of Fetterman seems like a distant memory.
Since Trump won Pennsylvania in 2024, Fetterman’s taken a major turn, and not just toward the center. He’s been leaning into Trump-world politics in a way that’s shocked a lot of his old supporters. He now calls himself a “regular Democrat,” but he’s saying and doing things that line up more with MAGA Republicans than the progressive left.
Getting Cozy with Trump
Fetterman went to Mar-a-Lago…yeah, seriously. He met with Trump in early 2025, said the two had a great conversation, called Trump “an unbelievable political talent,” and even encouraged him to use his executive power more aggressively. Not exactly the Fetterman people voted for in 2022.
Since then, he’s backed a bunch of Trump’s cabinet picks (names like Marco Rubio, Elise Stefanik, and Pam Bondi) saying they deserve a shot. And when it comes to Trump’s legal issues, Fetterman’s been defending him. He called the hush money case “bullshit,” said Trump should be pardoned, and brushed off talk of impeaching him as “dumb.” He’s even been quiet on Trump’s idea of pardoning the January 6 rioters.
Big Shift on Immigration and Foreign Policy
Immigration is another area where Fetterman’s done a complete 180. He used to show compassion for undocumented immigrants. Now, he co-sponsored a bill to make it easier to detain and deport people, even for minor nonviolent offenses. He’s also been fine with ICE raids and other crackdowns.
And on foreign policy, he’s gone full hawk. Fetterman’s been pushing for airstrikes in Iran and said the U.S. should just “waste” their nuclear sites if it comes to that. That kind of talk used to be unheard of from a Democrat.
From Economic Populist to Anti-“Woke” Nationalist
Fetterman still talks about bringing jobs back, but these days it’s all about tariffs, economic nationalism, and punishing “woke” institutions. He’s echoed Trump’s trade policies, and he’s supported efforts to strip funding from colleges like Columbia for hosting anti-Israel protests.
It’s a major shift from his earlier progressive, pro-labor messaging. He sounds a lot less like Bernie now, and a lot more like someone trying to win over disaffected conservatives.
So… Why the Change?
Fetterman says he’s just keeping it real and trying to represent all Pennsylvanians. But to a lot of people who backed him when he was the outsider fighting for the working class, it feels like he’s sold out.
Whether it’s a political survival move in a purple state or a real change in his beliefs, this isn’t the same Fetterman people thought they were voting for. And for progressives who once saw him as one of their own, the transformation has been confusing, frustrating, and a little heartbreaking.
The fallout from Fetterman’s shift has been intense. A lot of Democrats are furious — activist groups and even some Pennsylvania Democrats are calling him a sellout. Some are wondering if his stroke and recovery from depression might be influencing his behavior and outlook. He’s now being compared to figures like Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema, who also broke from the party line and created major headaches for Democratic leadership. Still, despite all the backlash, Fetterman says he’s not switching parties and insists he’s just being honest and practical about where he stands.