Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) blames his own party’s “elitism,” cultural disconnect, and failure to address border security for President Donald Trump’s 2024 victory.
Fetterman calls out his fellow Democrats in his newly released memoir, “Unfettered.”
In the book, released Tuesday, Fetterman sharply criticizes Democrat leadership and party strategy.
He argues that Democrats “ignored reality” and alienated the working-class voters who once formed the backbone of their coalition.
“We became the party of the elites, one that had lost touch with its base,” Fetterman wrote.
“Also, the continued speech and policies against men have not been without consequences.”
He said the party’s messaging toward men was particularly damaging.
“If men are forced to choose between picking their party or keeping their balls, most men are going to choose their balls,” he wrote.
Fetterman argued that Democrats’ focus on “celebrity endorsements” and ideological purity left them disconnected from everyday Americans.
“Democrats [were seen] as soft and gooey, with a platform built on ideals that weren’t based in the reality of the average person,” he wrote.
‘The Party of the Elites’
Fetterman said the party’s shift toward cultural elitism helped turn it into “an organization too focused on celebrity endorsements” and distant from working-class concerns.
He also warned that the party’s rhetoric had alienated a key demographic of male voters.
“The continued speech and policies against men,” he said, “have not been without consequences.”
Immigration and the 2024 Election
Fetterman identified immigration as one of the Democrats’ most serious political liabilities.
He is criticizing the Biden administration and party leadership for failing to confront the escalating crisis at the Southern Border.
“An open border is a compassionate policy,” he quoted Democrats as saying, before adding:
“It is chaos, both for those immigrants and for the citizens impacted by the overwhelming number of people coming in who need assistance.”
He said the party’s insistence that the border was “secure” despite mounting evidence to the contrary helped tip the 2024 election in Trump’s favor.
“Democrats were swearing up and down that the border was secure and telling its voters to not believe their own eyes,” Fetterman wrote.
“I suspect this may have been the deciding factor in the 2024 election.
“You can’t tell people to not believe their own eyes and expect to win elections.”
Division Inside the Party
Fetterman’s criticism comes at a moment of division within the Democratic Party.
His comments follow internal clashes over Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer’s (D-NY) handling of the recent government shutdown.
Fetterman and several other Senate Democrats joined Republicans to reopen the government over Schumer’s objections.
Although Fetterman only briefly mentions Schumer in the book, he recounts the 2023 decision to change the Senate dress code.
The move was widely seen as accommodating Fetterman’s casual attire of hoodies and shorts.
However, Schumer later reversed the rule under pressure the following year.
“Schumer was forced to reverse himself and enforce a dress code aimed at me,” Fetterman wrote.
A Party Searching for Direction
The release of “Unfettered” comes as Democrats continue to debate how to rebuild their brand after widespread losses in 2024.
The party has struggled to unify behind a clear message that resonates with working-class voters while also maintaining support from progressive activists.
Fetterman’s criticism underscores the growing divide between populist-leaning Democrats and party leaders in Washington, who have faced backlash for focusing on cultural and social issues rather than economic and security concerns.
In “Unfettered,” Fetterman concludes that Democrats must return to representing the voters who once defined the party.
“Botched policies, ignoring reality and turning their backs on the voters that built the party,” he wrote, “are the key ingredients that helped Democrats lose big last year.”
Our comment section is restricted to members of the Slay News community only.
To join, create a free account HERE.
If you are already a member, log in HERE.