Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) placed the blame for President-elect Donald Trump’s victory squarely on the shoulders of those within the Democratic Party who pushed President Joe Biden out of the 2024 race. In an interview with Semafor on Friday, Fetterman criticized the decision to sideline Biden, arguing that it paved the way for Trump’s return to the White House.
“For those that decided and moved to break Biden, and then got the election outcome they wanted, it’s appropriate to own the fallout,” Fetterman said. He expressed frustration that Biden, the only Democrat to have previously beaten Trump, was not given the chance to defend his title as the party’s nominee.
Fetterman acknowledged that Biden’s debate performance against Trump in June was “undeniably rough,” but he argued that forcing Biden out was a strategic miscalculation. “The options were clear: Double down on the only person who’s ever beaten Trump, or demand an alternative,” he said. “When the outcome didn’t support your thesis and actions, then own it.”
The Pennsylvania senator criticized the egos and institutions within the party that championed an alternative candidate. “There’s a lot of reputations that backed this move,” Fetterman added. “When you take a reasonable, calculated risk to f*** around, embrace your culpability for what you found out.”
Fetterman also highlighted the impact of the assassination attempt on Trump in Pennsylvania, which he argued created an “incredibly powerful visual” for the former president’s campaign. “Can you imagine if somebody had a bullet hit Obama and he had that moment: You know, fight, fight, fight?” Fetterman said. “It would have resonated deeply for Democrats. That kind of dynamic has never been seen in American political history.”
The senator further criticized his party’s attacks on tech mogul Elon Musk, suggesting they projected weakness. “And I promise you: Musk doesn’t give a s***,” Fetterman remarked, indicating his belief that such efforts were futile and poorly executed.
Fetterman’s comments offer a stark contrast to remarks made by Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), who placed the blame for Harris’ defeat on Biden himself. In an interview with The New York Times, Pelosi argued that Biden’s delayed decision to step aside prevented other viable candidates from entering the race. “Had the president gotten out sooner, there may have been other candidates in the race,” Pelosi said. “The anticipation was that if the president were to step aside, there would be an open primary.”
Pelosi’s latest statements contradict her earlier defense of the primary process. In September, she insisted, “We had an open primary, and [Kamala Harris] won it. Nobody else got in the race.”
Fetterman’s candid assessment highlights a growing divide within the Democratic Party over the handling of the 2024 election and the decision to replace Biden as the nominee. His remarks signal a call for accountability among party leaders who pushed for an alternative, arguing that their gamble ultimately backfired and handed Trump a clear path to victory.