Fetterman Blames Pelosi For Devastating Harris Loss: ‘You Got What You Wanted’
Pennsylvania Democratic Senator John Fetterman has directed blame at former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi for the Democrats' devastating losses in the 2024 elections.
In an interview with Politico, Fetterman didn’t hold back when asked whether President Joe Biden should have withdrawn from the race following his poor debate performance against Donald Trump.
“People like [Nancy] Pelosi, she really tried to — what’s the word I’m looking for? — she embraced this ‘she’s the godmother, she’s the enforcer,’” Fetterman remarked, accusing Pelosi of playing political power games. “And now she’s blaming Biden.”
“Well, you can’t have it both ways. You got what you wanted,” he continued, referencing Biden’s decision to step aside and endorse Vice President Kamala Harris. “And now you’re still blaming Biden.”
The Democratic Party is reportedly fractured, with internal divisions deepening as party members point fingers over their failure to reclaim the House, maintain the Senate, and prevent Trump’s return to the White House. Pelosi, for her part, has suggested that Biden’s decision to endorse Harris was a misstep that contributed to the party’s losses.
Fetterman, however, criticized Pelosi for holding on to power. “I think it’s really ironic that you have a woman at age 84, and she is still hanging on. Why not give a younger generation an opportunity to occupy that seat?”
He also pushed back against comments from Harris and other Democrats labeling Trump supporters as "fascists."
“I love people that are absolutely going to vote for Trump. They’re not fascists. They’re not those things,” Fetterman stated. “If you go to the tickle switch, use those kinds of terms, then it’s kind of hard to walk back on those things.”
He added, “That’s kind of a word that really isn’t part of the vernacular for voters. Scolding harder or clutching the pearls harder, that’s never going to work for Democrats.”
Pelosi, now facing growing calls to step aside, has drawn criticism from within the party following the electoral losses.
In a Fox News interview with host Neil Cavuto, Teamsters International President Sean O’Brien joined the chorus, calling on Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer to step down after the Republicans reclaimed the White House, flipped the Senate, and retained their hold on the House.
Despite the mounting pressure, Pelosi appears to be looking ahead to future campaigns. Last month, she filed paperwork for reelection in 2026.
After securing a 20th term in Congress, the 84-year-old submitted her candidacy statement to the Federal Election Commission, though her team has declined to confirm whether she will actually run again.
Pelosi’s comments about Biden’s withdrawal and subsequent endorsement of Harris have further fueled tensions within the party.
During a recent interview with The New York Times podcast, Pelosi acknowledged that there had been an expectation for Biden to step aside earlier, allowing a more open and competitive process for choosing his successor. She suggested this might have strengthened the party’s chances against Trump.
Biden, after months of speculation and mounting concerns over his age and performance, announced in July that he would not seek reelection. His endorsement of Harris solidified her position as the party’s standard-bearer, but critics like Pelosi argued the process was mismanaged.
Behind the scenes, Pelosi reportedly told party donors and Democrats to "speak their conscience" if they had reservations about Biden’s campaign.
One House Democrat told NBC News that the wave of public dissent against Biden earlier in the year “was all Nancy’s doing.”
As the Democratic Party faces a period of reflection and potential restructuring, the blame game appears far from over.