Democrat Senator John Fetterman of Pennsylvania isn’t holding back when it comes to criticizing former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, placing much of the blame for the Democrats’ disastrous 2024 election losses squarely on her shoulders. In a candid interview with Politico, Fetterman took aim at Pelosi’s post-election finger-pointing, particularly her suggestion that President Joe Biden’s decisions led to the party’s downfall. Fetterman’s remarks underscored the growing fractures within the Democrat Party as they grapple with their stunning defeat at the ballot box.
According to Fetterman, Pelosi can’t have it both ways. He accused her of pushing for Biden’s ouster to pave the way for Vice President Kamala Harris, only to now conveniently blame Biden for the losses. Fetterman’s pointed critique suggested that Pelosi’s desire to play the party’s “godmother” and “enforcer” backfired spectacularly, leaving the Democrats divided and leaderless. With Harris at the helm, the party failed to rally voters, losing the House, the Senate, and the presidency in a bruising defeat to President-elect Donald Trump.
Adding fuel to the fire, Fetterman took a swipe at Pelosi’s unwillingness to step aside and make room for a younger generation. At 84, Pelosi’s continued presence in leadership, according to Fetterman, is emblematic of the Democrats’ refusal to adapt and modernize. He suggested that clinging to old power structures while blaming others for failures only deepens the party’s woes. Fetterman’s critique wasn’t just about Pelosi—it was an indictment of a party increasingly at odds with itself.
The senator didn’t shy away from defending Trump supporters, either, pushing back against the tendency of Harris and other Democrats to label them as “fascists.” Fetterman argued that such rhetoric alienates voters and makes it nearly impossible to repair political divides. Calling voters names, he said, isn’t exactly a winning strategy for Democrats trying to broaden their appeal. His blunt assessment highlighted what he sees as a fundamental disconnect between the party’s leadership and the concerns of everyday Americans.
Pelosi’s critics aren’t confined to Capitol Hill. Even liberal voices like Whoopi Goldberg and Ana Navarro joined the chorus, blasting Pelosi for her blame-shifting. Navarro described Pelosi’s comments as nasty and counterproductive, accusing her of trying to shirk responsibility for the Democrats’ poor showing. The intra-party squabbles reveal just how deep the Democratic Party’s post-election fractures run, leaving many to wonder whether they can regroup in time for the next political fight.
