Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman expressed his dissatisfaction with Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi’s decision to blame President Biden for the Democratic Party’s loss in the 2024 U.S. Presidential Election. Fetterman pushed back against Pelosi’s comments, suggesting that she played a significant role in Biden’s withdrawal from the race. “You got what you wanted, and now you’re still blaming Biden,” Fetterman remarked.
The senator didn’t hold back in his criticism, suggesting that Pelosi, who is 84 years old and has served as a U.S. House representative since 1987, should step aside to allow a younger generation to take over. Fetterman’s comments came after Pelosi made remarks in an interview with The New York Times where she implied that Biden’s lack of popularity contributed to the party’s defeat.
Fetterman spoke with Politico about the issue, stating, “Pelosi always portrayed herself as the ‘godmother’ and ‘enforcer’ of the Democratic Party. Now she’s pointing fingers at Biden. You can’t have it both ways—you pushed him out, and now you’re blaming him for losing.” He continued, “At her age, I think it’s time for her to step aside and let younger leaders bring fresh perspectives to Congress.”
Reports suggest that following Biden’s underwhelming performance in the June 27 debate against then-Republican nominee Donald Trump, Pelosi allegedly worked behind the scenes to support efforts to push Biden out of the 2024 race. Although Pelosi denied being a primary force behind Biden’s exit in an August interview with CBS News, she admitted that she hadn’t spoken to the President since his withdrawal announcement on July 21.
“I did not call one person.” Speaker Nancy Pelosi talks with Lesley Stahl about her role in President Joe Biden’s decision to drop out of the presidential race. https://t.co/BtvgDUKdYf pic.twitter.com/cnJ8ywR5sU
— CBS Sunday Morning 🌞 (@CBSSunday) August 3, 2024
When asked if he believed Biden would have secured a victory had he remained in the race, Fetterman responded, “We’ll never know if Biden would have won. It was always going to be a close call, a really tough race.” He expressed uncertainty about the outcome but refrained from blaming Biden for the loss.
Fetterman also criticized Vice President Kamala Harris for her remarks on the campaign trail, where she labeled Trump supporters as “fascists.” He argued that such rhetoric was a mistake and counterproductive. “I love people who are going to vote for Trump—they’re not fascists,” Fetterman said. “When you use terms like that, it’s hard to walk it back. It’s not part of the everyday vocabulary for voters, and it only alienates them.”
He added, “Scolding voters or doubling down on harsh language isn’t going to win over anyone. Democrats need to rethink their strategy if they want to connect with people across the political spectrum.”
Fetterman’s statements highlight a growing divide within the Democratic Party over its leadership and messaging, underscoring the tension between veteran politicians and a younger generation eager for change.
