'What a disgrace': Critics blast Dem senator as he heads to Mar-a-Lago to meet Trump
Reports that Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) will be the first Democratic lawmaker to visit the incoming president at his Mar-a-Lago golf resort — coupled with his comparison of MAGA flirtations of taking Greenland to the famed Louisiana Purchase — provoked an immediate stream of reaction Thursday from political observers across social media.
The internet began to speculate immediately after the Pennsylvania senator confirmed in his own social media post that he would head to Florida to meet with President-elect Donald Trump.
“I’m the Senator for all Pennsylvanians — not just Democrats in Pennsylvania,” Fetterman said Thursday on his X account. “I’ve been clear that no one is my gatekeeper. I will meet with and have a conversation with anyone if it helps me deliver for Pennsylvania and the nation.”
But social media users chimed in on what they thought the move meant.
“Fetterman is becoming the new Manchin,” legendary actor and civil rights activist George Takei wrote on his social media accounts.
“Amazing how rapidly Fetterman revealed himself to simply be The Worst,” Adam Gurri, the editor of Liberal Currents magazine, told his followers on Bluesky.
Columbia University professor and writer Tom Watson predicted on his X account: “Fetterman is likely to switch parties. Let's face it. Full horseshoe.”
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Reporter Oliver Willis told his Bluesky followers: “what a disgrace fetterman is.”
“John Fetterman is Joe Manchin in a hoodie & gym shorts,” X user @anyonewantchips wrote in a post to their 41,000 followers on X.
But Fetterman has at least one liberal defender on his corner as he makes his journey to Palm Beach – tech billionaire Mark Cuban.
“A lot of people will criticize @johnfetterman.com for visiting trump,” Cuban wrote in a Bluesky post. “Don't. Imo, the best way to win voters is to do all you can to represent your constituents first. Your party last. Voters want results. If he can use Trump to get that. Amen.”
Trump took Pennsylvania’s coveted 19 electoral votes in November – a state that President Joe Biden won in 2020, CBS News reported. Fetterman, who won his seat in 2022, is not up for reelection until 2028.
But that hasn’t stopped the criticism from pouring in.
“Fetterman keeps getting worse and worse,” veteran health care reporter Jonathan Cohn wrote on Bluesky.