Fetterman Blames Pelosi For Devastating Harris Loss: ‘You Got What You Wanted’
Pennsylvania Democratic Senator John Fetterman criticized former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in the aftermath of the Democrats' poor performance in the 2024 elections, directly blaming her for the party’s setbacks.
In an interview with Politico, Fetterman responded candidly when asked if President Joe Biden should have exited the race after his disastrous debate with 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.’ And now she’s blaming Biden,” Fetterman said, taking aim at Pelosi for her alleged political maneuvers.
“Well, you can’t have it both ways. You got what you wanted,” he continued, referencing Biden’s withdrawal and Vice President Kamala Harris’s ascension, “and now you’re still blaming Biden.”
The Democratic Party, plagued by infighting and factional disputes, has been grappling with finger-pointing over their failure to reclaim the House, their loss of the Senate, and Trump’s victory in the presidential race. Pelosi has suggested that Biden’s premature endorsement of Harris was a misstep, leading to her significant defeat.
“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?” Fetterman added, calling for generational change in leadership.
Fetterman also pushed back against Harris and other Democrats labeling Trump supporters as “fascists” due to their political beliefs.
“I love people that are absolutely going to vote for Trump. They’re not fascists. They’re not those things,” he stated. “I think 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 emphasized that such rhetoric alienates voters: “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 faces mounting calls to step aside after the party’s disastrous 2024 showing. During a Fox News interview with host Neil Cavuto, Teamsters International President Sean O’Brien called on Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer to relinquish their roles following the Republicans’ victories in reclaiming the White House, securing the Senate, and maintaining control of the House.
Despite these calls, Pelosi appears to be preparing for another term. After winning her 20th term last week, the 84-year-old filed a statement of candidacy for the 2026 election with the Federal Election Commission. While her filing signals potential intentions for re-election, her representative has declined to confirm whether Pelosi will indeed seek another term.
Pelosi’s recent remarks on Biden’s withdrawal from the 2024 campaign and his endorsement of Harris have drawn scrutiny. Speaking on a New York Times podcast, Pelosi noted there was a belief that Biden would step down sooner, enabling a more competitive process to select his successor—something she suggested could have helped Democrats better respond to Trump’s candidacy.
After Biden’s shaky debate performance and escalating concerns over his age, he announced his withdrawal in July, throwing his support behind Harris. This decision was reportedly influenced by growing calls within the party for him to step aside.
Pelosi, according to some reports, privately advised donors and party members to “speak their conscience” if they had doubts about Biden. A House Democrat told NBC News at the time that the surge of dissenting voices within the party was “all Nancy’s doing.”