Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) made headlines this week after being photographed dining at a conservative Washington establishment with prominent MAGA figures, including former Trump advisor Steve Bannon.
The Pennsylvania senator was seen at Butterworth’s, a Capitol Hill restaurant known for attracting Republican Hill staffers and MAGA socialites, on Monday, according to reporting.
Fetterman initially sat down for dinner with Breitbart reporter Matt Boyle at the buzzy bistro.
The evening took an unexpected turn when Steve Bannon, the conservative strategist and host of the influential “War Room” podcast, joined their table.
Bannon spent approximately 20 minutes dining with the Democratic senator, creating a scene that left onlookers surprised at the unlikely political pairing.
The timing of the dinner has drawn particular scrutiny, as June 9th marked Fetterman’s 17th wedding anniversary with his wife, Gisele Fetterman.
Notably absent from the dinner was Gisele Fetterman, who was not mentioned in reports about the evening’s activities.
Senate staffers previously told the Daily Mail in May that Gisele has been largely absent from Washington throughout this year.
Fetterman’s office declined to respond to requests from the outlet for comment regarding the dinner meeting.
The senator’s political trajectory has shifted significantly since entering office, moving away from his original progressive platform toward more centrist positions.
Following the October 7 attack on Israel, Fetterman has become a vocal supporter of Israel while distancing himself from progressive ideology.
His rightward shift has included breaking with Democratic colleagues on immigration policy, supporting stricter border controls and backing fracking operations.
Fetterman has also met personally with President Donald Trump, further cementing his departure from traditional Democratic positions.
The 55-year-old senator’s health has been a subject of concern among his staff members as his political positions have evolved.
Fetterman suffered a stroke during his 2022 campaign and later checked himself into a hospital to address clinical depression after joining Congress.
A New York Magazine report detailed concerns from Gisele regarding her husband’s behavior and political decisions, including his strong support for Israel.
The same report revealed that medical professionals had restricted Fetterman’s social media access during his treatment period.
When questioned about not wearing her wedding ring in early May, Gisele told the Daily Mail she removes it for her work as a firefighter for safety reasons.
Social media users quickly connected the dinner date to Fetterman’s anniversary after the news broke publicly.
The senator had previously posted on social media in 2024 about spending his anniversary dealing with a car accident, making this year’s dinner plans particularly noteworthy.
Progressive blogger Howie Klein criticized the anniversary dinner choice, suggesting Fetterman’s political shift continues accelerating toward Republican-friendly positions.
Fetterman and his wife made headlines a year ago after the pair was hospitalized following a car accident.
The two soon broke their silence on the matter, thanking their followers on social media for “all the well wishes” following the accident.
WATCH:
Maryland State Police told the Daily Mail at the time that the senator was driving a Chevrolet Traverse when he rear-ended a Chevrolet Impala in northern Maryland, near the Pennsylvania and West Virginia border.
